Knee Surgery in Louisville, Kentucky
Aptiva Health provides comprehensive knee care in Louisville — from the first evaluation through imaging, conservative treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation — anchored by board-certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steve Smith and Dr. Shawn Price and a team of orthopedic advanced practice providers. We treat the full range of knee conditions, prioritizing conservative care first — physical therapy, bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, and targeted injections — and offering minimally invasive surgical options including knee arthroscopy, meniscus repair, ACL reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and partial and total knee replacement when surgery becomes the right answer. With on-site MRI, on-site physical therapy, and an in-house orthopedic and sports medicine team, the entire knee care pathway happens under one roof.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD and Shawn Price, MD. Last reviewed: May 2026.
Why Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Knee Care in Louisville
One Knee Team, One Care Pathway
Most knee patients in Louisville end up coordinating care across three or four practices: a primary care office for the referral, a separate imaging center for the MRI, an orthopedic specialist booked weeks out, an injection appointment somewhere else, and a separate physical therapy practice for rehab. Each handoff is another week of delay, another insurance authorization, another appointment to drive to.
Aptiva Health is structured differently. From the initial evaluation through MRI, conservative care, injections, surgery, and post-operative rehab, the patient stays inside one organization. The surgeon, the orthopedic PA and APRN, the physical therapist, and the imaging center all share the same chart and the same plan.
Conservative Care First, Surgery When It's Right
Most knee problems do not require surgery. Our knee team starts every patient with the least-invasive treatment that is likely to work — physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, bracing, activity modification, and targeted knee injections. We measure progress, image when needed, and only recommend surgery when the patient's symptoms and imaging both indicate it is the right step.
When surgery is the right answer, we use minimally invasive techniques whenever the anatomy allows — smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, less pain, and a faster return to normal activity.
Same-Week Knee Evaluations
Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments. Patients do not wait months for a first visit. New patients with imaging in hand can often be evaluated within 7 days of calling, and acute knee injuries can be seen right away through our Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic, including on-site X-ray.
On-Site Imaging and Therapy Across Louisville
Aptiva Health sees knee patients at multiple Louisville locations, with on-site MRI imaging and Aptiva orthopedic, sports medicine, interventional pain, and physical therapy services available close to home — including Louisville East, Louisville Downtown, and Louisville Middletown. No separate trip to an outside imaging center, no long wait for the scan.
Schedule your appointment today!
Meet the Louisville Knee Team
J. Steve Smith, MD - Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
Dr. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine at Aptiva Health and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, trained at the University of Rochester, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he served on the medical staff for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He has performed thousands of orthopedic procedures on patients and athletes of all ages and treats the full range of knee conditions, from sports injuries and meniscus and ligament tears to knee arthritis and knee replacement. He has been nominated as the best orthopedic surgeon in Kentucky in 2026.
Specialty: Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgery
Title: Director of Orthopedics, Aptiva Health
Accepting New Patients: Yes
Shawn Price, MD - Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Shawn Price is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose clinical focus includes arthritis care, minimally invasive joint replacement, and the treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. For knee patients, Dr. Price evaluates and treats knee arthritis and degenerative knee conditions and performs partial and total knee replacement, helping patients understand whether joint replacement is the right step and guiding them through the most appropriate procedure to relieve pain and restore mobility. He completed his Sarcoma Advanced Research and Clinical Fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute - one of the premier sarcoma training programs in the United States - under the mentorship of Drs. R. Lor Randall and Kevin B. Jones.
Specialty: Orthopedic Oncology and Total Joint Replacement
Title: Orthopedic Surgeon, Aptiva Health
Accepting New Patients: Yes
Michael Gilbert, PA-C Orthopedic Physician Assistant
Michael Gilbert has been an orthopedic physician assistant for 30 years, with experience across general orthopedics, sports orthopedics, and orthopedic spine. For knee patients, Michael provides same-week new-patient evaluations, conservative-care coordination, knee injections, and post-operative follow-up — making sure imaging, bracing, therapy, and pre-operative planning happen on schedule. Michael currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Kentucky Army National Guard as Chief Surgeon. He is the first physician assistant in the history of the Kentucky Army National Guard to hold this esteemed position.
In addition to his military service, Michael dons the hat of a soccer referee and showcases his culinary talents as a pastry chef. His diverse background includes being a former owner of an artisanal chocolate business and a proud graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Passionate about cooking, you can find Michael experimenting with various dishes on his Kamado Grill in his free time.
Becky Kostyo, APRN - Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Becky Kostyo is an advanced practice registered nurse who works directly with the Aptiva Health knee team to evaluate, diagnose, and manage knee conditions. She provides conservative care, administers knee injections, and coordinates pre- and post-operative care — for many knee patients, Becky is the clinical contact who guides them through non-surgical treatment and recovery. Becky has worked with Dr. J. Steve Smith for more than a decade and is intimately familiar with his processes, protocols, and countless patient success stories.
Knee Conditions We Treat in Louisville
Our Louisville knee team evaluates and treats the full range of knee injuries and degenerative conditions:
Meniscus tears — tears of the C-shaped cartilage that cushions the knee, from sports injuries or age-related wear.
ACL tears — anterior cruciate ligament injuries, common in pivoting and cutting sports.
PCL, MCL, and LCL injuries — sprains and tears of the other major knee ligaments.
Knee osteoarthritis — age-related cartilage wear that produces pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Cartilage injuries and chondromalacia — damage or softening of the cartilage on the joint surfaces, including the kneecap.
Patellofemoral pain and kneecap instability — pain at the front of the knee and recurrent kneecap dislocation or tracking problems.
Knee sprains and strains — acute ligament and muscle-tendon injuries.
Tendon injuries — patellar and quadriceps tendinitis and tendon tears.
Knee dislocations and loose bodies — joint dislocations and fragments of cartilage or bone within the joint.
Knee bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee.
Work-related and auto-accident knee injuries — evaluated and treated under workers' compensation and auto injury coverage.
Knee Surgeries Performed in Louisville
When conservative care has not provided sufficient relief, our Louisville knee surgeons perform the full range of minimally invasive and joint replacement procedures. Most are performed on an outpatient or short-stay basis at the appropriate surgical center.
Arthroscopic (minimally invasive) knee surgery
Knee arthroscopy — a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions to diagnose and treat problems inside the knee.
Meniscus repair and meniscectomy — repairing a torn meniscus or trimming the damaged portion when repair is not possible.
ACL reconstruction — rebuilding a torn anterior cruciate ligament with a graft to restore knee stability.
PCL, MCL, and LCL reconstruction — ligament reconstruction or repair for instability involving the other major knee ligaments.
Cartilage restoration — procedures to repair or regrow damaged cartilage on the joint surfaces.
Loose body removal — removing fragments of cartilage or bone that cause locking or catching.
Knee replacement surgery
Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement — resurfacing only the single damaged compartment of the knee while preserving the healthy ligaments and cartilage.
Total knee replacement — resurfacing all three compartments of an arthritic knee joint to relieve pain and restore function.
Kneecap (patellofemoral) surgery
Patellar realignment and stabilization — surgery to correct kneecap tracking and recurrent kneecap dislocation.
Non-surgical knee procedures
Many knee patients avoid surgery entirely with conservative treatment delivered by our orthopedic PA and APRN:
Knee injections — including corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain.
Viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid / gel injections) — for select patients with knee osteoarthritis.
PRP injections — platelet rich plasma injections and regenerative injections
Bracing and physical therapy — to stabilize the knee and rebuild strength and motion.
The Aptiva Stepped-Care Approach to Knee Conditions
Knee surgery is rarely a first-line treatment. Our Louisville knee team follows a stepped-care approach that gives every patient the best chance of resolving symptoms without surgery.
Step 1 — Activity modification, medication, and self-care. NSAIDs, ice and heat, bracing or a knee sleeve, weight management when relevant, and avoiding the activities that aggravate symptoms.
Step 2 — Physical therapy and non-invasive treatment. Knee-specific strengthening and mobility protocols, manual therapy, and gait and movement retraining.
Step 3 — Knee injections. Corticosteroid injections and, for select arthritis patients, viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid) injections, administered by our orthopedic PA and APRN — many of which provide lasting relief and prevent the need for surgery.
Step 4 — Minimally invasive surgery or knee replacement when conservative care has not provided sufficient relief or when the diagnosis clearly requires surgical treatment.
Many patients reach Step 2 or Step 3 and stop there — their symptoms resolve and they do not need surgery. For the patients who do need surgery, the stepped-care evaluation makes sure the procedure is targeting the right problem.
When Should You See an Aptiva Knee Surgeon in Louisville?
Most knee pain comes on gradually and resolves with conservative care. Certain patterns warrant prompt evaluation by an orthopedic specialist:
Knee pain that has not improved after 4–6 weeks of rest, activity modification, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, and basic strengthening.
A knee that gives way, buckles, or feels unstable.
Locking or catching — the knee getting stuck or not fully straightening.
Significant swelling that develops quickly after an injury or recurs without a clear cause.
Knee pain that worsens at night or wakes you up.
Difficulty with stairs, kneeling, or walking distances because of knee pain.
A knee injury from sports, a fall, or a work or auto accident.
A prior knee surgery that did not provide the relief expected.
Get to an emergency room or urgent care immediately if you experience: an obvious knee deformity after an injury, inability to bear any weight on the leg, a knee that is hot, red, and severely swollen with fever, or numbness and loss of circulation in the foot. These can indicate a fracture, dislocation, joint infection, or vascular injury.
For non-emergency knee evaluation, Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week appointments — patients do not wait months to be seen.
Schedule your appointment today!
Schedule a Knee Consultation in Louisville — Schedule Now
Louisville locations serving knee patients:
Louisville East — 10100 Linn Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Downtown — 300 South 13th Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Tel: 502-583-1011
Louisville Middletown — 401 N English Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-909-0772
Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute — 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-909-0772
Louisville Imaging — 3615 Newburg Road, Suite 106, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-909-0772
Elizabethtown and Mt. Washington locations also serve orthopedic patients:
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Elizabethtown — 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Tel: 270-751-6706
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Mt. Washington — 737 N Hwy 31E Bypass, Suite 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047. Tel: 502-909-0772
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Surgery in Louisville
Who are the knee surgeons at Aptiva Health Louisville?
Aptiva Health Louisville's knee surgery is performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. J. Steve Smith, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, and Dr. Shawn Price. Conservative care, knee injections, and pre- and post-operative management are provided by orthopedic physician assistant Michael Gilbert, PA-C, and orthopedic nurse practitioner Becky Kostyo, APRN, who work directly with the surgeons.
Where can I see a knee surgeon in Louisville?
Aptiva Health sees knee patients at multiple Louisville locations, including Louisville East at 10100 Linn Station Road, Louisville Downtown at 300 South 13th Street, Louisville Middletown at 401 N English Station Road, and the Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute at 3611 Newburg Road. On-site MRI imaging is available so the scan, diagnosis, and treatment plan can happen within one organization.
Do I need knee surgery?
Most knee problems do not require surgery. At Aptiva Health Louisville, we start every patient with conservative care — physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, bracing, and targeted injections when appropriate — and only recommend surgery when symptoms and imaging both clearly indicate it. Many patients resolve their symptoms without an operation.
What is the difference between partial and total knee replacement?
A total knee replacement resurfaces all three compartments of the knee joint, while a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement resurfaces only the single damaged compartment and preserves the healthy ligaments and cartilage. Partial knee replacement is an option for select patients with arthritis confined to one part of the knee and usually involves a smaller incision and a faster recovery. Your Aptiva Health surgeon reviews your imaging and exam to recommend the option that fits your knee.
What knee conditions does Aptiva Health Louisville treat?
Aptiva Health Louisville treats the full range of knee conditions, including meniscus tears, ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL injuries, knee osteoarthritis, cartilage damage and chondromalacia, patellofemoral pain, knee sprains and strains, tendon injuries, knee dislocations, and work-related and auto-accident knee injuries.
How long is recovery after knee surgery?
Recovery depends on the procedure. Most patients return to non-strenuous activity within two to four weeks after knee arthroscopy or meniscus surgery. ACL reconstruction recovery is longer, typically six to nine months before a full return to sport. Total and partial knee replacement patients are usually walking the same day and progress over roughly three months, with continued gains for up to a year. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, which speeds recovery.
Can I avoid knee surgery?
Many patients can. Most knee pain improves with physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, bracing, and targeted knee injections. Aptiva Health Louisville's stepped-care approach is built around finding the least-invasive treatment that solves the problem, and surgery is recommended only when conservative care has not worked and imaging confirms a surgical indication.
What is knee arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which the surgeon inserts a small camera and instruments through tiny incisions to diagnose and treat problems inside the knee, such as meniscus tears, loose cartilage, and ligament damage. Because it avoids a large incision, arthroscopy generally means less pain, smaller scars, and a faster return to activity than open knee surgery.
How quickly can I be seen for a knee evaluation at Aptiva Health Louisville?
Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments. New patients with imaging in hand can often be evaluated within the same week of calling. For an acute knee injury, the Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic can evaluate the knee right away, including on-site X-ray.
Does Aptiva Health Louisville perform second-opinion knee consultations?
Yes. Many knee patients come to Aptiva Health for a second opinion after being told they need surgery elsewhere. Bringing prior imaging — X-ray, MRI, or CT — and any prior physician notes makes the consultation most useful. Our team reviews the imaging, performs an independent exam, and gives a clear recommendation — sometimes confirming the surgical plan, sometimes suggesting non-surgical alternatives.
Does Aptiva Health Louisville treat work-related and auto-accident knee injuries?
Yes. Many knee patients at Aptiva Health Louisville are treated under workers' compensation or auto injury coverage. We work directly with employers, third-party administrators, and adjusters, and handle Kentucky workers' compensation documentation and impairment ratings when applicable.
What insurance does Aptiva Health Louisville accept for knee surgery?
Aptiva Health Louisville accepts most major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay arrangements. Our team verifies benefits before your visit.