Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Knee Problems
Knee Problems
Knee Problems
Knee Diseases
Why
Where
Age
Causes
Symptoms
Types
Journals:
1. Arthritis & Rheumatology
2. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Grade 1 knee sprain: The ligament is stretched and painful, but fibers
are not torn and no instability is present.
Grade 2 knee sprain: The ligament fibers are torn partially, mild
instability may be evident.
Grade 3 knee sprain: The ligament fibers are completely torn and the
knee is unstable.
Knee strains occur when tendons or muscles surrounding the knee are
stretched, usually due to hyperflexion or hyperextension of the knee. These
strains can lead to pain outside of the knee joint but can cause dysfunction of
the normal range of motion of the knee. The patellar tendon stretches from the
lower kneecap to the front of the tibia bone at the front of the leg.
Knee bursitis occurs when a fluid-filled pouch (called a bursa) in the knee is
irritated, inflamed, or infected. Bursas are fluid-filled sacs located around
joints that act as shock absorbers that minimize the friction between various
tissues, such as the muscles and tendons around the joints. In the knee, there
are two main bursas, one above the kneecap (patella), and one below the knee
joint near the front of the tibia bone.
Tears of the meniscus can occur from damage to the inside of the knee. The
medial and lateral menisci (plural of meniscus) are semi-round pieces of
cartilage that act as shock absorbers and smooth cushions for the thighbone
(femur). These menisci can be injured acutely or can become dysfunctional
gradually due to overuse.
Knee joint dislocation can occur due to high-impact, large-force injuries to
the knee (sports, motor vehicle accidents). This is a rare injury but causes
severe damage to all the anatomical components of the knee and can include
damage to the blood vessels. This requires emergency treatment or surgery.
The kneecap (patella) can dislocate to the side of the knee. The patella
dislocation can be very painful but is generally not life-threatening and can be
treated by popping it back into place (reduction of the patella) and splinting.
Knee fractures occur from direct blows to the bones. Patella, or kneecap,
fractures occur when a person falls directly down onto the knees and the
kneecap cracks due to the force. Collapse of the top of the tibia bone in the
knee (tibia plateau fracture) can occur from sudden compression injury to the
knee, especially in people with osteoporosis. Other fractures of the long bones
(fibula, tibia, and femur) are rare with isolated injures to the knee.
Other overuse injuries of the knee include patellofemoral pain syndrome
(often referred to as "runner's knee") and weakness and degeneration of the
cartilage under the kneecap (chondromalacia patella). These injuries are due to
an accumulation of repetitive damage to the knee structures. This may be
cause by either congenital problems or improper mechanics of the knee
movement.
Most people have had a minor knee problem at one time or another. Most of the
time our body movements do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that
symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or injury. Knee
problems and injuries most often occur during sports or recreational activities,
work-related tasks, or home projects.
The knee is the largest joint in the body. The upper and lower bones of the knee
are separated by two discs (menisci). The upper leg bone (femur) and the lower
leg bones (tibia and fibula) are connected by ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
The surface of the bones inside the knee joint is covered by articular cartilage,
which absorbs shock and provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint
movement. See a picture of the structures of the knee .
Although a knee problem is often caused by an injury to one or more of these
structures, it may have another cause. Some people are more likely to develop
knee problems than others. Many jobs, sports and recreation activities, getting
older, or having a disease such as osteoporosis or arthritis increase your
chances of having problems with your knees.
Sudden (acute) injuries
Injuries are the most common cause of knee problems. Sudden (acute) injuries
may be caused by a direct blow to the knee or from abnormal twisting, bending
the knee, or falling on the knee. Pain, bruising, or swelling may be severe and
develop within minutes of the injury. Nerves or blood vessels may be pinched or
damaged during the injury. The knee or lower leg may feel numb, weak, or cold;
tingle; or look pale or blue. Acute injuries include:
Ligament tears, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The medial
collateral ligament (MCL) is the most commonly injured ligament of the
knee.
Knee joint dislocation. This is a rare injury that requires great force. It is
a serious injury and requires immediate medical care.
Overuse injuries
Overuse injuries occur with repetitive activities or repeated or prolonged
pressure on the knee. Activities such as stair climbing, bicycle riding, jogging,
or jumpingstress joints and other tissues and can lead to irritation and
inflammation. Overuse injuries include:
Inflammation of the small sacs of fluid that cushion and lubricate the
knee (bursitis).
Pain in the front of the knee from overuse, injury, excess weight, or
problems in the kneecap (patellofemoral pain syndrome).
Irritation and inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue that runs down
the outside of the thigh (iliotibial band syndrome).
A popliteal (or Baker's) cyst causes swelling in the back of the knee.
Medical history
Physical examination
Diagnostic tests (such as x rays, bone scan, CAT scan, MRI, arthroscopy,
and biopsy).
Arthritis in the Knees
The most common type of arthritis of the knee is osteoarthritis. In this disease,
the cartilage in the knee gradually wears away. Treatments for osteoarthritis
are:
Weight loss.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of arthritis that affects the knee. In
rheumatoid arthritis, the knee becomes inflamed and cartilage may be
destroyed. Treatment includes:
Physical therapy
Medications
Ligament Injuries
Two commonly injured ligaments in the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). An injury to these ligaments is
sometimes called a "sprain." The ACL is most often stretched or torn (or both)
by a sudden twisting motion. The PCL is usually injured by a direct impact,
such as in an automobile accident or football tackle.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments are usually injured by a blow to the
outer side of the knee. This can stretch and tear a ligament. These blows
frequently occur in sports such as football or hockey.
Ligament injuries are treated with:
A brace
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Trying to break a fall. If thigh muscles contract, the tendon can tear. This
is most likely to happen in older people with weak tendons.
One type of tendinitis of the knee is called jumpers knee. In sports that require
jumping, such as basketball, the tendon can become inflamed or can tear.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by stress or tension on part of the growth
area of the upper shin bone. It causes swelling in the knee and upper part of
the shin bone. It can happen if a persons tendon tears away from the bone,
taking a piece of bone with it. Young people who run and jump while playing
sports can have this type of injury.
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when a tendon rubs over the outer bone of the
knee causing swelling. It happens if the knee is overused for a long time. This
sometimes occurs in sports training.
Treatment for tendon injuries and disorders includes:
Rest
Ice
Elevation
If cartilage fragments have not broken loose, a surgeon may pin or screw
them in place. This can stimulate new blood flow to the cartilage.
If fragments are loose, the surgeon may scrape the cavity to reach fresh
bone and add a bone graft to fix the fragments in position.
Rest
Ice
Surgery to remove the plicae if the first treatments do not fix the
problem.