Dr. Rynecki Baker Recognized by the Arthroscopy Association of North America

Posted on: October 21st, 2026 by Our Team

Dr. Nicole Rynecki Baker received two honors in 2025 from the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the leading professional society dedicated to arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery: a 2025 AANA Research Grant, as a co-investigator on a clinical trial aimed at preventing stiffness after ACL surgery, and a 2025 AANA Annual Meeting Resident Scholarship.

The Research Grant: Preventing Stiffness After ACL Reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is one of the most common and successful operations in sports medicine. But for a subset of patients, recovery is derailed by arthrofibrosis: excessive scar tissue that forms inside the knee and leaves it stiff and painful. Patients with arthrofibrosis may be unable to fully straighten or bend the knee, and many need additional surgery to remove the scar tissue and restore motion. The risk is higher after revision ACL surgery.

The AANA-funded trial, Oral Losartan to Decrease the Risk of Postoperative Arthrofibrosis Following Primary and Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, tests a new approach to prevention. Losartan is a widely used, FDA-approved blood pressure medication that also blocks one of the key signaling pathways that drives scar tissue formation. The trial is evaluating whether taking losartan after ACL surgery can reduce the risk of arthrofibrosis in both first-time and revision reconstructions.

Dr. Rynecki Baker serves as a co-investigator alongside a team of nationally recognized sports medicine surgeons and scientists. AANA research grants are awarded competitively to projects with the potential to change how arthroscopic surgery is practiced.

Why It Matters

Today, arthrofibrosis is largely managed after it happens, with intensive therapy, manipulation under anesthesia, or a second operation. A safe, inexpensive oral medication that lowers the risk from the start could spare patients months of frustration and additional surgery, and help more athletes return to the sports they love on schedule.

The Resident Scholarship

Dr. Rynecki Baker was also selected for a 2025 AANA Annual Meeting Resident Scholarship. Awarded by the AANA Education Foundation to residents and fellows with a demonstrated commitment to arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery, the scholarship supports attendance at the AANA Annual Meeting and its Residents and Fellows Program, where trainees learn from leading arthroscopic surgeons.

What It Means for Her Patients

ACL reconstruction is a core part of Dr. Rynecki Baker’s practice. Her involvement in research focused on preventing complications reflects a simple goal: not just a successful operation, but a smooth recovery and a knee that moves and functions the way it should.