Knee Fracture
The most commonly broken bone in the knee is the patella, also known as the kneecap. A patellar fracture is typically the result of trauma, such as falling directly on the kneecap. An operation is usually required to repair a fractured knee, but if the pieces of broken bone aren’t displaced, immobilization may allow the break to heal without surgery. Fractures can also occur at the end of the femur or the tibia, where those leg bones meet to form the knee joint.
Symptoms: Severe pain, bruising, swelling, tenderness difficulty bending or extending the leg, inability to walk, a change in the appearance or alignment of the leg.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- Immobilization
- Knee fracture repair surgery.
Knee Ligament Injuries
Four major ligaments in the knee connect the femur in the thigh to the tibia in the shin: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). These ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that help stabilize the knee and control its movement. Damage to any of these ligaments might cause instability or buckling at the knee. Knee ligament treatments vary based on the severity of the injury, ranging from physical therapy to surgery.
- Sprains – Stretching and minor tearing that leaves knee ligaments mostly intact. These injuries may be repaired through nonsurgical treatments and rehabilitation.Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, limited mobility, and sometimes a buckling of the knee when trying to bear weight.Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Immobilization/Bracing
- Tears – Severe or complete tearing of knee ligaments, usually requiring surgery to repair the damage. One of the most common knee ligament injuries is an ACL tear, often sustained during athletic activity that demands frequent twisting such as basketball, football, and skiing, while an MCL tear might be cause by sports that result in a blow to the outside of the knee.Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, limited mobility, a popping sound at the time of injury, a buckling of the knee when trying to bear weight.Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Immobilization/Bracing
- Knee ligament repair surgery
- Internal Brace Procedures
Knee Tendon Injuries
The two major tendons in the knee are the patellar tendon, which attaches the patella (kneecap) to the tibia (shinbone), and the quadriceps tendon, which connects your quadriceps (thigh muscle) to your kneecap. Injury to the patellar tendon is most common, though damage to either of these tendons can making walking and other daily activity difficult, often requiring surgery.
- Strains – Small or partial tears that leave most of the tendon intact. These injuries typically respond well to nonsurgical measures like bracing or physical therapy, which strengthens the knee’s supporting muscles and improves its range of motion.Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, difficulty walking.Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Bracing
- Physical therapy
- Knee Tendon Repair Surgery
- Tears – Injuries that tear the tendon in two and separate it completely from the kneecap, typically requiring surgery to allow for proper healing. The patellar tendon, the largest in the knee, sometimes tears where it attaches to the kneecap, often breaking off a piece of bone with it.Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, difficulty walking, a tearing or popping sensation, inability to straighten the knee drifting of the kneecap because its anchor has been torn.Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Bracing
- Physical therapy
- Knee Tendon Repair Surgery
- Internal Brace Procedures
Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is comprised of two wedges of cartilage that cushion and stabilize the knee joint. This cartilage can tear as a result of injury or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, can be difficult to heal, and may worsen over time.
Symptoms: Pain, limited mobility, swelling, tenderness, a popping or clicking sound or sensation when moving the knee.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Immobilization/Bracing
- Knee arthroscopy
Inflammatory Arthritis
An attack on the knee’s healthy tissues by the body’s overactive immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Symptoms: Joint pain, swelling, redness, stiffness, and loss of function. Flare-ups of inflammatory arthritis can also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and fatigue.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- Rest
- Bracing
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Total knee replacement surgery
Osteoarthritis
The breakdown of the cartilage that coats the ends of bones and joints. Normally, damaged cartilage repairs itself as older cartilage is degraded. When this degradation outpaces repair, cartilage breakdown occurs and damage to bone results.
Symptoms: Pain, tenderness, stiffness, decreased flexibility, a grating sensation during movement, the formation of bone spurs around the affected joint.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Bracing
- Injections
- Physical therapy
- Partial knee replacement surgery (Partial knee resurfacing)
- Total knee replacement surgery
- BioCartilage Procedures
Knee Pain/Runner’s Knee
Dull pain around the front of the knee, especially where it connects with the lower end of the thigh. Typically seen in patients who participate in high-impact athletic activities that require running and jumping, this condition is often caused by irritation of the cartilage at the back of the kneecap, though overuse, trauma, weak thigh muscles, or misaligned bones might also contribute.
Symptoms: A dull, aching sensation under and around the kneecap, most noticeable after activity or long periods of sitting, squatting or walking down stairs. The knee may also catch, grind or pop.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy
- Knee arthroscopy (in rare cases)
Knee Tendinitis
The inflammation or irritation of tendons, the thick bands of tissue that attach bones to muscles, usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.
Symptoms: Joint pain often described as a dull ache, tenderness, mild swelling.
Treatment Options: For further information, please select the Treatments tab.
- Over the counter pain relievers
- R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Physical therapy
- Corticosteroid injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Dry needling
