Where Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine, and Functional Medicine Meet!
CHRONIC PAIN? TRYING TO AVOID ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY?
YOU FOUND HOPE. YOU FOUND THE ALTMAN METHOD
Dr. Sean Altman
Dr. Altman is a Functional Medicine Doctor with expertise in Energy Medicine, Bioelectric Signaling, and Regenerative Orthopedics.
"The Altman Method is not an abstract philosophy but a practical, reproducible framework that integrates structural integrity, biochemistry, neurology, and energy. It gives patients answers where they have only been dismissed, and it gives providers tools where they have only had protocols."
- Dr. Steven Murphy
Relevant Research
In addition to his practice, Dr. Altman is a speaker, author, researcher who is actively involved in the medical community. His life's passion is inspiring his patients and colleagues alike to create, participate in, and rely on, new research data that can better guide medical diagnoses and decision-making. This will not only improve the technologies that are designed to mitigate health-related issues, but provide us all with a better understanding as to why these issues occur in the first place. It is the continuous intake of research and data that keeps The Altman Method one of the most cutting-edge, non-surgical interventions available today.
Eye-opening Research That Is Changing What We Know About Orthpedics
Review the study summaries below. You can also use the links to the full study should it be of interest to you.
MENISCAL SURGERY VS PHYSICAL THERAPY (METEOR TRIAL – INITIAL RCT)
Katz JN, Brophy RH, Chaisson CE, et al. Surgery versus physical therapy for a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2013;368(18):1675–1684.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23506518/
Summary: In patients ≥45 years old with symptomatic meniscal tear and mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy combined with PT was not superior to PT alone for pain and functional improvement at 6 and 12 months.
METEOR TRIAL – 5 YEAR FOLLOW-UP
Katz JN, Shrestha S, Losina E, et al. Five-Year Outcome of Operative and Nonoperative Management of Meniscal Tear in Persons Older Than Forty-Five Years. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2020;72(2):273–281.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31429198/
Summary: At 5-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in pain or functional outcomes between surgical and non-surgical groups. In as-treated analysis, those who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy had a higher hazard ratio (~4.9) for total knee replacement compared to nonoperative care.
INTRA-ARTICULAR CORTICOSTEROIDS AND OA PROGRESSION
Zeng C, Lane NE, Hunter DJ, et al. Intra-articular corticosteroids and the risk of knee osteoarthritis progression: results from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2019;27(6):855–862.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30703543/
Summary: In a propensity-score matched cohort from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, initiation of corticosteroid injections was associated with increased risk of radiographic osteoarthritis progression. Continuous use demonstrated an even stronger association.
APPROPRIATENESS OF TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY (TKA)
Riddle DL, Jiranek WA, Hayes CW. Use of a validated algorithm to judge the appropriateness of total knee arthroplasty in the United States: a multicenter longitudinal cohort study. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2014;66(8):2134–2143.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24974958/
Summary: Applying a validated appropriateness algorithm to 205 TKA patients, 34.3% were classified as inappropriate, 21.7% inconclusive, and only 44% appropriate. Patients in the inappropriate group showed minimal improvement at follow-up.
TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT APPROPRIATENESS
Quintana JM, Aróstegui I, Azkarate J, et al. Evaluation by explicit criteria of the use of total hip joint replacement. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2000;39(11):1234–1241.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11085803/
Summary: In a cohort of 583 patients undergoing total hip replacement, nearly 60% were classified as inappropriate or uncertain under explicit criteria. Appropriate candidates showed slightly better outcomes at 1 year.
LONG-TERM PAIN AFTER TOTAL HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT (SYSTEMATIC REVIEW)
Beswick AD, Wylde V, Gooberman-Hill R, Blom A, Dieppe P. What proportion of patients report long-term pain after total hip or knee replacement for osteoarthritis? BMJ Open. 2012;2:e000435.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22357571/
Summary: Systematic review of prospective studies showing a meaningful proportion of patients report persistent long-term pain after joint replacement, despite overall good average outcomes.
EUROPEAN COLLABORATIVE HIP REPLACEMENT COHORT
Judge A, Cooper C, Williams S, et al. Patient-reported outcomes one year after primary hip replacement in a European Collaborative Cohort. Arthritis Care & Research. 2010;62(4):480–488.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20391502/
Summary: In a cohort of 1,327 primary total hip replacement patients, average improvement was substantial; however, a significant subset did not achieve meaningful improvement at one year.
TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SELECTION STRATEGY & LONG-TERM PAIN DISCUSSION
Hayashi K, Henrotin Y, Tsunoda T, Tokunaga S. A new strategy for the selection of patients with hip osteoarthritis to avoid inappropriate total hip replacement based on imaging and clinical characteristics. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2025.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40524613/
Summary: Review discussing improved patient selection for THR and highlighting that 30–36% of patients may experience persistent postoperative pain. Emphasizes integrating clinical and imaging findings.
OVERUSE OF INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES FOR LOW BACK PAIN
Roth AR, Lazris A, Haskell H, James J. Overuse of Interventional Procedures for Low Back Pain. American Family Physician. 2022;105(6):667–670.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35704820/
Summary: Review highlighting overuse of spinal interventions, including fusion. Reports approximate outcomes after back surgery: ~33% improve, ~33% no improvement, ~33% worse. Spinal fusion costs exceed $16 billion annually in the U.S.
FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROME (REVIEW)
Sebaaly A, Lahoud MJ, Rizkallah M, Kreichati G, Kharrat K. Etiology, Evaluation, and Treatment of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. Asian Spine Journal. 2018;12(3):574–585.
Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6002183/
Summary: Reviews causes and incidence of failed back surgery syndrome, commonly reported in 10–40% of lumbar surgery patients depending on procedure and definition.