Richard Cunningham, MD

About Richard Cunningham, MD

Dr. Richard Cunningham is a knee surgeon, shoulder specialist, and sports medicine physician at Vail Summit Orthopedics & Neurosurgery. Dr. Cunningham is an expert at treating conditions to the

ACL Revision Surgery

What is ACL Revision Surgery?Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision surgery may be required when one tears a previously reconstructed ACL tendon graft. ACL reconstruction surgery has a success rate between 80-90%, but a surgically reconstructed ACL can also tear or fail. There are several reasons why a reconstructed ACL fails. Common reasons are (1) [...]

ACL Revision Surgery2021-08-31T22:11:29+00:00

Partial Knee Replacement – Treatment for Knee Arthritis

What is a Partial Knee Replacement? A partial knee replacement -- also referred to as unicompartmental arthroplasty-- is a replacement or resurfacing procedure to treat severe arthritis which is confined to mainly one part of the knee. The 3 compartments of the knee are: Patellofemoral compartment - front of the knee, between the [...]

Partial Knee Replacement – Treatment for Knee Arthritis2021-08-31T20:48:54+00:00

PCL Surgery

What is Arthroscopic PCL Reconstruction?The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) is a primary stabilizing ligament of the knee, preventing the tibia from going backward in relationship to the femur. People can tear their PCL as a result of severe trauma to the knee. The usual mechanism is one in which the tibia bone is forced [...]

PCL Surgery2021-08-31T22:22:14+00:00

Superior Capsular Reconstruction Surgery

When is Superior Capsular Reconstruction Surgery Utilized?In rotator cuff repair surgery, a torn rotator cuff tendon is surgically mobilized and then anchored to its normal bony attachment site. However, some patients present having severely torn most or all of their rotator cuff tendons. These massive tears did not happen overnight. These massive rotator cuff [...]

Superior Capsular Reconstruction Surgery2021-08-31T21:56:49+00:00

Latarjet Procedure

What Happens When a Shoulder Dislocates?Shoulder dislocations are one of the most common shoulder injuries seen in our work hard, play harder environment. The shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) is comprised of the glenoid (socket) and humeral head (ball). This joint is often compared to a golf ball on a golf tee due to the [...]

Latarjet Procedure2020-05-05T22:11:46+00:00

How Dr. Cunningham Helped Meghan Buchanan Return to Summiting Mountains

Meghan Buchanan at Denali “You will fail, you may even break, but this is not failure. Learn, grow, and rise. Each time higher than the last.” - Meghan Buchanan On Superbowl Sunday, Meghan was enjoying powder conditions on the ski run Windows in Vail’s Sun Up Bowl when [...]

How Dr. Cunningham Helped Meghan Buchanan Return to Summiting Mountains2020-10-23T22:20:04+00:00

10 Questions to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon Before Surgery

If you have injured your knee or shoulder, and you continue to have pain, swelling, instability or mechanical symptoms, then you may ultimately require orthopedic surgery. Because any surgery comes with some risk, you should learn as much as possible about your procedure beforehand. Orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. [...]

10 Questions to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon Before Surgery2020-04-13T21:02:17+00:00

Snowboarder Ellie Weiler Back on the Slopes After Knee Surgery

Photo by Chip Proulx Ellie Weiler began snowboarding at the age of seven. As her love for the sport grew, she began to focus on slopestyle. “In 2015, I joined Team Summit, a program for student-athletes who pursue competitive skiing and snowboarding,” said Ellie. “Living in Denver, I was a [...]

Snowboarder Ellie Weiler Back on the Slopes After Knee Surgery2020-10-23T22:20:41+00:00

How to Prevent Ski Touring Injuries

What is Ski Touring? In recent years, ski touring has become an emerging winter sport. Ski touring, also referred to as skinning, involves uphill and downhill travel on skis or a splitboard with no lift assistance. Ski touring requires a free heel in a touring binding, allowing you to traverse and [...]

How to Prevent Ski Touring Injuries2020-04-13T20:30:20+00:00

Dr. Cunningham’s TV8 Interview During US Burton Open

In this TV8 interview during the U.S. Burton Open in Vail, CO, Dr. Cunningham discusses common sports injuries seen among snowboarders. For beginner snowboarders, hand and wrist injuries are very common. For athletes who are intermediate to advanced, knee and shoulder injuries are commonly seen. Dr. Cunningham specializes in the treatment of [...]

Dr. Cunningham’s TV8 Interview During US Burton Open2020-03-10T17:23:18+00:00

Jay Woolmington AC Joint Injury Treatment

Jay Woolmington with Wife While Jay Woolmington was headed to his weekly recreational soccer game in the summer of 2019, he was looking forward to some friendly competition. Unfortunately, during a breakaway opportunity, Jay was accidentally tripped from behind. Flying forward in a full Superman, Jay tucked his body before he hit the [...]

Jay Woolmington AC Joint Injury Treatment2020-10-23T22:21:37+00:00

Biceps Tenodesis Surgery

What is Biceps Tenodesis Surgery?The bicep muscle has two tendon attachments in the shoulder region, the long head and the short head. The tendon of the bicep long head attaches in the shoulder joint whereas the tendon of the bicep short head attaches just outside the shoulder joint. The tendon portion of the long [...]

Biceps Tenodesis Surgery2022-08-08T23:16:39+00:00
Go to Top