Arthroscopic Repairs
Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that allows orthopedic surgeons to assess – and in most cases, treat – a range of conditions affecting the knee joint. During the procedure, the orthopedic surgeon makes small incisions or portals in the affected joint, and then inserts a tiny camera and fiber optics to light the interior space.
Meniscal Disorders
Knee meniscus disorders involve the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus, which are two pads of cartilage in the knee between the femoral and tibial condyles (the joint surfaces of the femur and tibia). The most common disorder is a tear of the meniscus.
Knee Arthritis
There are three basic types of arthritis that may affect the knee joint.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of knee arthritis. OA is usually a slowly progressive degenerative disease in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away. It most often affects middle-aged and older people.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory type of arthritis that can destroy the joint cartilage. RA can occur at any age. RA generally affects both knees.
Post-traumatic Arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis can develop after an injury to the knee. This type of arthritis is similar to osteoarthritis and may develop years after a fracture, ligament injury, or meniscus tear.
The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend or straighten the knee.
Pain and swelling are worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. Pain may also increase after activities such as walking, stair climbing, or kneeling.
The pain may often cause a feeling of weakness in the knee, resulting in a “locking” or “buckling.”
Knee Cap Disorders (Patello-Femoral Syndrome, etc.)
Anterior knee pain, or patellofemoral pain, is pain in the front of the knee which is often made worse by sitting for prolonged periods, stair climbing or any activity which involves bending the knee. It is often aggravated by sport.
Oschgood Schlatter’s Disease
Osgood Schlatters disease is a very common cause of knee pain in children and young athletes usually between the ages of 10 and 15. It occurs due to a period of rapid growth, combined with a high level of sporting activity. Though it’s one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents, it’s really not a disease, but an overuse injury.
Knee Fractures
A knee fracture can be a break of any of the bones around the knee–Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), Tibia (shin bone)
Treatment Duration: Treatment for knee fractures is based on the severity of the fracture and the bone involved. Usually fractures of the femur require some form of surgical stabilization. Mild
Knee Contractures After Surgery
After total knee replacement surgery, some people develop joint stiffness, which is also called a joint contracture. Contractures cause the envelope of the knee (called the capsule) to stiffen and become rigid so the patient can no longer move their knee the way they used to. After stretching and other exercises, only a surgery can try and divide or remove the contracture.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear (ACL Tear)
An anterior cruciate ligament injury is extreme stretching or tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. A tear may be partial or complete. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that attach one bone to another. The ACL connects the thighbone to the shin bone, crossing the knee. ACL tears may be caused by contact or non-contact injuries. A blow to the side of the knee, like during a football tackle, may result in an ACL tear. However, coming to a quick stop, combined with a direction change while running, pivoting, landing from a jump, or overextending the knee joint, can cause injury to the ACL. Sports like basketball, football, soccer, and skiing have regular occurrences of ACL tears.
Symptoms:
- Feeling or hearing a pop in the knee at the time of injury
- Pain on the outside and back of the knee
- The knee swelling within the first few hours of the injury
- Limited knee movement
- Knee wobbling, buckling, or giving out
Total Knee Replacement
TKR can help relieve pain and restore function in the knee joint. The surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint (prosthesis).
Symptoms that may lead one to consider a knee replacement:
- Knee pain that does not respond to therapy (medication, or therapy for 6 months or more)
- Pain that limits or prevents activities
- Inability to sleep through the night because of knee pain
- Arthritis of the knee
- Decreased knee function caused by arthritis
- Some tumors involving the knee
