KNEE TREATMENT

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Knee pain is a common complaint for people of all ages. It can be caused by a trauma or a medical condition. Medical conditions that cause knee pain include gout, infections, arthritis and being overweight or obese. Common trauma includes ligament or cartilage injuries, fractures, and muscle or tendon injuries.

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Patients with knee problems typically experience pain, swelling, stiffness, weakness or instability in the joint. They may also hear crunching or popping noises or have the inability to fully bend or straighten the knee.

Some minor knee injuries can be treated with home treatment options, including rest, ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pills. But many cases of knee pain require medical assistance.

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Our orthopaedic team takes a multi-faceted approach to treating knee conditions, injuries and the pain resulting from either. We provide all options and offer the least invasive option to treat each patient’s knee issue.

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Common knee problems we treat that can cause knee pain:

- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, ruptures & sprains

- Arthritis

- Knee (prepatellar) bursitis

- Bone chips

- Cartilage wear and tear

- Chronic knee pain

- Knee fracture

- Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome

- Meniscus tears

- Osgood-Schlatter disease

- Osteochondritis dissecans

- Runner’s knee

- Infected knee replacement

- Failed knee replacement

- Sprains & strains

- Subluxation or dislocation

- Tendonitis

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Knee Replacement & Knee Replacement Revision
Our doctors will go over all the differences in each knee replacement surgery and pick the best option for each patient. We also offer knee replacement revision surgeries to correct problems with a previous knee replacement. A patient is a candidate for a knee replacement if there is severe destruction of the knee joint that is associated with pain and reduced function.

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Total knee replacement is a surgery where the knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic joint made of artificial material. We often perform a minimally invasive total knee replacement, which is done with a 4 to 6-inch incision instead of the 8 to 11-inch incision used with a traditional total knee replacement surgery. This option also spares or minimally cuts the quadriceps muscles and tendon, leading to a quicker and less painful recovery.

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Along with a minimally invasive approach, we may utilize computer guidance for joint implant placement. This is not a robotic surgery, rather the surgeon uses information from the computer to help with precise placement.

Arthroscopic Treatment Options
Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure our orthopedic surgeons use to view, diagnose and treat a problem inside the knee. In an arthroscopic procedure, a surgeon will make small incisions around the knee and insert a small camera lens and light (the arthroscope) for viewing and special surgical instruments to perform the operation. Arthroscopic procedures have a shorter downtime for patients and less reported pain.

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Some of our most common arthroscopic knee surgeries include:

- Meniscal repair procedures

- ACL reconstruction

- Knee cartilage restorative procedures

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Physical Therapy

Physical therapists can help reduce pain and strengthen muscles to make the knee more stable. They can also confirm exercises are done correctly to reduce further injury. Physical therapy will also be used as an essential part of rehabilitation after surgery, should that be necessary.

Braces
For some causes of knee pain, a physician can provide a brace that can help support and protect the knee. Our doctors can help find the best brace, whether it is for preventive care, rehabilitative care, daily use or sports.

Injections
In some cases, treatment options prior to surgery include injecting medication or other substances directly into the knee joint. Some injections offered at CHP include the following:

 

- Corticosteroids: A steroid and a local anesthetic mixture is injected into the knee joint to treat knee pain, inflammation, and swelling with fluid buildup in the knee.

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- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): This alternative treatment option uses platelets from the patient’s blood to promote cell restoration to repair damaged muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments or even bone in order to reduce pain and swelling.

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- Bone Marrow Injections: This injection uses a patient’s progenitor cells to initiate healthy growth of damaged tissue to decrease pain and improve function.

- Hyaluronic acid: Treats pain caused by osteoarthritis by using a substance similar to what naturally occurs in the joints as a lubricant and shock absorber.