Is knee pain keeping you from enjoying life?
Your knee is the largest joint in your body, and it’s also one of the most complicated. Your knee is comprised of four main elements – bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons – and has many parts that are capable of sustaining injury. Some of the most common knee injuries are fractures, dislocations, sprains, and ligament tears. Many times a knee injury may involve more than one part of your knee.
It is often possible to treat a knee injury with basic remedies such as bracing and physical therapy. In other instances, however, you may need surgery if your injury is severe enough and unable to heal on its own.
If you’re experiencing pain and swelling in or around your knee, odds are you may have a knee injury. Or if your knee catches or locks up, you may have injured it. Many knee problems can cause you to feel like your knee is unstable, or your knee may give out on you entirely.
Here is a brief overview of the most common knee injuries:
Fractures
Kneecap, thigh bone, and shin bone fractures are the three most common types of knee fractures. The patella is the bone around the knee that breaks most often. The ends of the femur and tibia – where they meet to form the knee joint – are also susceptible to fractures. Traumas to the knee such as a car accident or sports injury are often the causes of such breaks.
Dislocations
If a bone or bones in your knee are out of place, it means you have a dislocation. Dislocations might be partial or total, and they can be a result of an abnormality in the structure of your knee. Your femur, tibia, and patella are all capable of slipping out of place.
Sprains and Ligament Tears
Knee ligament sprains or tears are often the result of sports-related injury. It is possible to injure two or more ligaments simultaneously. Injuries to the ligaments that control the sideways motion of your knee are usually caused by a force that pushes your knee sideways. If these ligaments stretch too far, it’s possible that they may tear.
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a condition that occurs when the cartilage in your knee, which is a natural shock absorber, wears down over time. When this protective cartilage breaks down, it can cause swelling, pain, and worsening joint problems. Treatment for this condition includes knee injection, knee arthroplasty, and knee arthroscopy.
Signature Medical Group’s practitioners are board-certified orthopedic surgeons whose expertise, experience, and leadership in their profession translate into exceptional medical care and treatment for you.
Do you live in St. Louis or Kansas City and wonder whether you may need a total knee replacement or whether there are other options that might be appropriate for you? Make an appointment with one of our board-certified orthopedic specialists today!