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Knee
The knee is the largest joint in the body and it is also one of the most complex. It is made of a hinge joint which joins the shinbone (tibia) and the thigh bone (the femur). At the front of the knee joint lies the kneecap (the patella). The ends of each of the bones are covered with a hard white slippery “gristle” which we call “Articular Cartilage”. In between these articular surfaces lie a pair of shock absorbers called the Meniscus, which are commonly named by people as “Cartilage”. So it is easy to be confused between both of them.
The bones of the knee are connected by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. All these are contributing to provide movement, strength, balance and stability for the knee. Each componenet of knee described above can be affected by many conditions ranging from simple injury and bruising, to a complete ligament rupture and advanced arthritis (wear & Tear).
Herebelow, some of the common knee conditions and their treatment:
Cartilage (Meniscus) Damage
The menisci are two crescent-shaped cartilage structures that sit on top of the shin bone (tibia), between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia within the knee joint. There are two menisci in each knee:
• Medial meniscus – on the inner side of the knee
• Lateral meniscus – on the outer side of the knee
They act as wedge-shaped shock absorbers between the bones and play a vital role in distributing load across the knee during weight-bearing activities.se. Learn More...
Knee Ligament injury
Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to one another and help provide stability and strength to a joint. Knee stability depends on a complex group of ligaments that span the joint. The main ligaments are:
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): located in the centre of the knee, controlling rotation and
forward movement of the tibia (shin bone).
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): located in the centre of the knee, controlling backward
movement of the tibia.
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL): located on the inner side of the knee.
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL): located on the outer side of the knee.
These ligaments can sustain a range of injuries, from a mild sprain to a complete tear or rupture. One of the most common and significant ligament injuries of the knee is an ACL rupture, which is explained below. Learn More...
Articular Cartilage Damage
Articular cartilage is the smooth, shiny white lining that covers the ends of the bones inside the knee joint. It allows the joint surfaces to glide smoothly with very little friction, and it also helps to cushion the knee and distribute load across the joint. Unfortunately, articular cartilage has a very limited ability to heal itself. When it is damaged, the body may fill the defect with scar-like repair tissue, but this is not as durable or as smooth as the original cartilage.
Articular cartilage damage may occur after an acute injury such as a twist, fall, direct impact, or sporting injury. This is different from the gradual wear and tear seen in osteoarthritis, and it is important to distinguish between the two because the treatment options and expected outcome can be different. Patients may complain of pain, swelling, catching, clicking, giving way, or occasional locking of the knee
. Learn More...
Anterior Knee Pain (Kneecap)
Anterior knee pain is a broad term used to describe pain felt at the front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap (patella). It is a symptom rather than a single diagnosis, and it may arise from several different problems affecting the kneecap and the knee extensor mechanism. Learn More...
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