Dr. Rynecki Baker Honored by the Eastern Orthopaedic Association

Posted on: October 25th, 2026 by Our Team

Dr. Nicole Rynecki Baker has received the 2026 Richmond Arthroscopy/Sports Medicine Travel Award from the Eastern Orthopaedic Association, recognizing research she presented at the EOA’s 2026 Annual Meeting.

The EOA brings together orthopedic surgeons from across the eastern United States, and this award recognizes work in arthroscopy and sports medicine, the two areas at the heart of Dr. Rynecki Baker’s practice.

The Research: How Soon Can Patients Walk After Kneecap Stabilization Surgery?

Dr. Rynecki Baker’s award-winning study tackled a question every patient asks after surgery for kneecap instability: When can I put weight on my leg?

For patients whose kneecap repeatedly dislocates, one of the most effective operations combines two procedures. A medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction rebuilds the ligament that holds the kneecap in place, and a tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) repositions the bony attachment of the patellar tendon so the kneecap tracks correctly. Because the TTO involves cutting and moving bone, surgeons have traditionally kept patients off the leg or on limited weight for weeks afterward. But practice varies widely, and there has been little evidence to guide it.

Using data from the JUPITER multicenter cohort, a large prospective study of patients treated for patellar instability at centers across the country, Dr. Rynecki Baker’s study compared 232 patients treated with full weightbearing as tolerated, partial weightbearing, or non-weightbearing after combined MPFL-TTO surgery.

Across 232 patients at 12 academic centers, not a single patient in any group had a fracture, shift, or failure to heal at the osteotomy site. Patients who walked early reported the same outcomes as those kept off the leg, and they returned to sport just as quickly. The findings make a strong case for testing early weightbearing in a larger randomized trial.

Why It Matters

Weeks on crutches affects everything: getting to school or work, driving, sleeping, and simply getting around the house. It also slows the return of quadriceps strength. Evidence on how soon patients can safely bear weight lets surgeons build recovery plans that are both safe and practical, and gives patients a clearer, more confident path back to normal life and sport.

Patellar instability is one of Dr. Rynecki Baker’s primary clinical and research focuses, and she performs the full range of kneecap stabilization procedures, including MPFL reconstruction, tibial tubercle osteotomy, and trochleoplasty. Her research directly shapes the recovery protocols her patients follow.

A Track Record of Recognition

The EOA award joins a series of national and international honors for Dr. Rynecki Baker’s research, including:

• Joseph C. McCarthy Basic Research Award, ISHA – The Hip Preservation Society (2026)
• NextGen Bursary Award, ISHA – The Hip Preservation Society (2026)
• Marian Frauenthal Sloane Clinical Research Award for Outcomes in Hip Arthroscopy, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital (2025)
• Annual Meeting Resident Scholarship, Arthroscopy Association of North America (2025)
• Orthopaedic Video Theater Award, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2025)
• Best Residents/Fellow Program Paper Presentation, Arthroscopy Association of North America (2023)