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Knee
Learn all about the knee, one of the largest and most complex joints in the human body
About the Knee
As the largest joint in the body, the knee is essential for performing countless daily activities. The knee is comprised of many components working in harmony. Tendons and ligaments in the knee provide strength and stability, while the cartilage and muscle structures surrounding the knee allow for fluid movement.
As an essential weight-bearing joint, knee pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion can make many activities difficult to perform. Knee pain can be caused by an injury to the knee, degenerative diseases, trauma, and arthritis. The most common causes of knee pain are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic arthritis.
Our expert fellowship-trained physicians, Dr. Randall Peyton, Dr. Matthew Griffith, and Dr. David Goodwin provide exceptional care for all types of knee problems, including those caused by sports injuries and arthritis.
Some of the Knee Conditions Treated by Arthritis & Sports
ACL, MCL, PCL Injuries
Meniscus & Articular Tears & Injuries
Patella Dislocations
Torn Cartilage
Quadriceps Tears
Some of the Non-Surgical Knee Treatments Provided by Arthritis & Sports
Activity Modification
Anti-Inflammatory Medication
Braces
Injections
Regenerative Therapies, including: PRP, Viscosupplementation, Regenerative Injections
Splints
Some of the Surgical Knee Procedures Performed by Arthritis & Sports
Partial Knee Replacements
Partial knee replacement surgery, also referred to as “uni-compartmental knee replacement”, removes and replaces one damaged area of the cartilage in the knee. This surgery is often recommended to patients who suffer from limited arthritis focused in one area of the knee. By removing only the damaged area, the healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments of the knee are preserved. This can potentially delay or prevent the need for a total knee replacement. By maintaining the undamaged region, the knee may naturally function and have a greater range of motion. Since partial knee replacement is a less invasive knee surgery with smaller incisions, patients benefit from faster rehabilitation.
Total Knee Replacements
Total knee replacement surgery is suggested for patients who continually suffer from knee pain, stiffness, disability, or decreased range of motion. This surgery is recommended after conservative treatments, such as medications or physical therapy, have failed to relieve these conditions. During a total knee replacement, the damaged or diseased knee joint is replaced with an artificial implant. After surgery patients experience a dramatic reduction in knee pain and significant improvement in their knee function. With the completion of physical therapy, most patients are able to return to their previous activities prior to their injury or onset of arthritis pain.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) knee injuries occur most often to athletes. Typically this injury results from collisions in contact sports, or sudden twisting or pivoting motions under full body weight. Football, basketball, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tennis all take their toll on both amateur and pro athletes’ ACLs. ACL injuries range from a simple sprain to partial or complete ligament tears. Usually, pain and swelling immediately follow the injury. Left untreated, this injury can lead to osteoarthritis. ACL reconstruction is a minimally invasive procedure lasting around two hours. The surgeon makes two small incisions and sews the torn ligament back together using graft tissue. The “new” ACL graft is anchored to the bones with graft-stabilization hardware. This fixation hardware remains in the knee and is not felt by the patient.
For more information regarding ACL reconstruction surgery, click here!
MACI (Autologous Chrondrocyte Implantation)
Unlike other tissues in the body, cartilage is unable to repair itself and can progress to debilitating joint pain and eventually osteoarthritis if left untreated. Autologous Chrondrocyte Implantation (ACI) is an innovative biologic procedure that involves growing a patient’s own cartilage cells in a lab and then reimplanting this cartilage back into the knee. This surgical procedure has been available for more than 20 years and has shown to provide long-lasting pain relief. The newest generation of autologous chondrocyte implantation, MACI, has shown clinical success in Europe and was recently approved by the FDA for use in the United States. This innovative procedure, which builds on the success of prior ACI technology and greatly simplifies the process, allows us to treat your knee pain and prevent osteoarthritis from forming.
For more information regarding MACI, click here!
