Knee
The knee is a complex joint of many components making it vulnerable to a variety of injuries. Many of the injuries can be successfully treated without surgery while others require surgery to correct. The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most easily injured. It is made up at the lower end of the thigh bone, or the femur, which rotates on the upper end of the shin bone, or tibia, and the kneecap, patella, which slides on a groove at the end of the femur. The knee also contains large ligaments which help control motion by connecting bones and by bracing the joint against abnormal types of motion. Another important star structure is the meniscus. This is a wedge of soft cartilage between the femur and tibia that serves to cushion the knee and helps absorb shock during motion.
COMMON KNEE INJURIES: Many athletes experience injuries to their knee ligaments. One of the four major ligaments found in the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament, which are often injured in sports. The posterior cruciate ligament may also be injured. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament may occur during change of direction, slowing down while running or landing from a jump and this may cause a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament. Athletes who participate in skiing and basketball, and athletes who wear cleats, such as football players, are susceptible to ACL injuries. Medial collateral ligament injuries are often caused by a direct blow to the outside of the knee. These types of injuries often occur in contact sports, such as football or soccer. Posterior cruciate ligaments are often injured when the athlete receives a blow to the front of the knee or makes a simple misstep on the playing field. Torn cartilage refers to injuries to the meniscus. The meniscus is a tough, rubbery cartilage that is attached to these ligaments. The meniscus acts like a shock absorber. In athletic activities tears to the meniscus can occur when twisting, cutting, pivoting decelerating or being tackled. Direct contact is often involved.
Orthopaedic surgeons, such as TriState Orthopaedic Treatment Center, use a variety of methods to treat injuries in athletes. The common method used to treat mild knee injuries is R.I.C.E, which stands for rest, ice, compression, elevation. Resting the knee by staying off of it or walking only with crutches, applying ice to control the swelling, and the use of compressive elastic bandages applied snuggly but loosely enough so that it does not cause pain. Finally, elevation helps avoid increased swelling.
The most important advice is to seek treatment as soon as possible, especially if you hear a popping noise or feel your knee is giving out at the time of the injury, if you have severe pain, or if you cannot move the knee and if you begin limping. Another common symptom is a lot of swelling at the injury site. In the older athlete osteoarthritis may be a cause of pain, swelling and limitation of function. Osteoarthritis is often diagnosed by x-rays, physical examination and by MRI. Treatment of osteoarthritis may include weight loss, physical therapy, bracing and anti-inflammatories. Ultimately, if it progresses to the point of complete loss of articular cartilage, a joint replacement may be necessary. TriState Orthopaedic Treatment Center is an excellent resource for both acute injuries of the knee as well as chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis.