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WHAT IS IT: The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of four ligaments in the knee that provides rotational stabilization and controls the back and forth motion of the knee. Torn ACLs are a common knee injury: more than 200,000 occur each year in the U.S., and about 100,000 of those require ACL surgery procedure before returning to normal routines.
WHAT CAUSES IT: An ACL tear or sprain can occur with a sudden change in motion or speed, landing incorrectly while jumping, or pivoting on a locked knee. Typically, a popping noise and noticeable weakness in the knee, followed by pain and swelling are the most common symptoms of an ACL tear.
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WHAT IT IS: The meniscus is made of two wedge-shaped cartilage pieces in the knee joint that cushions and stabilizes the joint by absorbing shock between your femur and tibia. Damaged cartilage can cause pain, problems with knee motion, and instability in the knee joint. A meniscectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of a torn meniscus.
WHAT CAUSES IT: A meniscal tear or sprain can occur during squatting and twisting motions, or is seen in older people from degeneration due to wear and tear. A torn meniscus usually produces swelling and well-localized pain in the knee. If left untreated, pieces of cartilage may become loose in the joint and cause sliding, popping, and locking.
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WHAT IT IS: Cartilage debridement is an operative treatment for osteoarthritis. The surgeon uses an arthroscope to smooth rough, fibrillated articular cartilage, remove torn menisci, shave tibial-spine osteophytes, remove loose bodies, and minor synovectomy to remove inflamed synovium.
WHAT CAUSES IT: Arthritis is inflammation in one or more joints in the body, and osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common types of arthritis. It is a degenerative issue due to wear and tear of cartilage in the knee joint and the formation of bone spurs in that space. Symptoms include joint stiffness and swelling especially after sitting or resting, pain, cracking or clicking noises, and weakness in the knee.
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WHAT IT IS: A Synovectomy is the partial or complete surgical removal of the synovial membrane. The synovial membrane lines internal joint surfaces and is responsible for secreting fluid that nourishes cartilage, and keeps joints mobile and free of cellular debris.
WHAT CAUSES IT: In patients with arthritis, inflammation and excessive growth of synovium is part of an abnormal immune response that causes the body to destroy the cartilage on joint surfaces. The depleted cartilage creates damage on joint surfaces, leading to pain and swelling. In these scenarios, a removal of the synovium is a common procedure.
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WHAT IT IS: Microfracture is a surgical technique developed to treat damaged cartilage. A microfracture creates small holes in the surface layer of bone which allows more vascular bone to access the surface layer. This deeper bone has more blood supply, and penetrating this hard surface layer allows the cells to reach the surface and stimulate cartilage growth.
WHAT CAUSES IT: Microfracture is a common surgical procedure used to treat patients with small areas of damage to the articular cartilage that have been torn down to the bone’s surface.
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WHAT IT IS: A unicompartmental knee replacement is an option for patients with osteoarthritis of a compartment or small percentage of their knee joint. The knee is divided into three major compartments; the medial compartment (inside part of the knee), the lateral (outside part of the knee) and the patellofemoral compartment (the front of the knee between the kneecap and thighbone). A unicompartmental knee surgery (or uni knee replacement surgery) replaces the damaged compartment with metal or plastic and is used to decrease pain and restore function.
WHAT CAUSES IT: Osteoarthritis to a section or compartment of the knee is the leading cause to undergo a unicompartmental knee replacement surgery. Osteoarthritis is the wear-and-tear on a joint reducing the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. This rubbing can result in pain, swelling and a decrease in joint mobility. Surgery is an option for patients whose knee is affecting their quality of life and normal daily activities.
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WHAT IS IT: When conservative treatment, physical therapy and rest fails to heal stiffness and pain in the knee, manipulation of the knee under anesthesia may be an appropriate treatment option. During this procedure a physician will move the knee through a full range of motion, effectively tearing scar tissue and increasing the knee’s range of motion.
WHAT CAUSES IT: Between 5% – 7% of patients develop stiffness in the knee following a knee surgery procedure. Manipulation of the knee under anesthesia is a treatment option used to effectively treat stiffness and poor range of motion in the knee.
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WHAT IS IT: Ligaments are fibrous connective tissue that connect one bone to an adjacent bone. A torn or damaged ligament in the knee severely limits the knee’s mobility and may require knee ligament reconstruction surgery if other medical treatment options fail. During knee ligament reconstruction surgery, a surgeon will use an arthroscope to reattached or reconstruct the torn ligament in the knee by using a tendon graft that may come from the patient or a donor’s body.
WHAT CAUSES IT: There are four major ligaments in the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. Torn, weak or stretched ligament damage in the knee is often a result of a sports injury. Common symptoms of a torn knee ligament is the inability to pivot, twist or turn the leg.
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WHAT IS IT: The meniscus is made of two wedge-shaped cartilage pieces in the knee joint that cushions and stabilizes the joint by absorbing shock between the femur and tibia. A torn meniscus typically produces pain in the region of the tear, which may worsen with pivoting or squatting motions. During a meniscal repair, a surgeon uses an arthroscope and stitches the torn meniscus back together. In order for the meniscus to heal back together properly, a longer recovery time must be allotted for this procedure.
WHAT CAUSES IT: A torn meniscus often occurs from forceful twisting or hyper-flexing the knee joint. Repetitive kneeling, rising or squatting as well as normal wear and tear are often direct causes of a torn meniscus.
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WHAT IS IT: A total knee replacement, also referred to as a total knee arthroplasty, is a common surgical procedure that relieves pain and corrects deformity. When simple activities such as walking become difficult and alternative measures have failed to reduce pain, total knee replacement surgery may help you resume normal activity. Implants used during the procedure are generally made of metal and plastic components specifically designed to ensure the frictionless, gliding motion you would expect to find in healthy knee movement.
WHAT CAUSES IT: The purpose of a knee replacement surgery is to relieve chronic pain and disability within the knee most commonly caused by arthritis. While many forms of the disease exist, three notable variations of arthritis may damage the knee to the point where it needs to be replaced: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. While a knee replacement procedure is the most common joint replacement procedure, it may not be the right solution for everyone with arthritic knee pain. An orthopedic surgeon specializing in the treatment of bones and joints will be able to determine if a total knee replacement procedure is right for your individual needs.
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