knee-health

Cars and machines needs parts replacement are needed over their lifetime. The same is true of our bodies. Since we live longer lives, items we might have had put in along the way, like fillings in our teeth, or joint replacements in our knee, wear over time and may need to be replaced. Dr. Xie is here to tell us about what it's like to get that joint replaced a second time.

Gwo-Chin Lee MD discusses robotic knee surgery. He shares how Penn has designed its new robotic joint replacement program and why Penn has decided now is the right time to add this option to its array of surgeries. He describes the robots they’re using at Penn Orthopaedic Surgery and the advantages for patients and the surgeon.

Dr. Loveland explains innovative ACL treatment methods being used at Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.

Dr. Brian Chielli discusses the symptoms of cartilage damage in the knee, and the many non-operative treatments options available to restore function and reduce pain.

Dr. Ghassan Boghosian and Dr. Erik Schnaser discuss how hip and knee replacements work.

Knee replacement surgery, also known as Knee Arthroplasty, can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. Dr. John McLaughlin discusses Quadricep Sparing Knee Replacement, a recently developed technique for performing the surgery without detaching muscles or tendons.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments that stabilizes the knee. It’s the most commonly injured knee ligament. There are nearly 200,000 ACL repair surgeries in the United States each year. Women are seven to eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than men.

The ACL prevents the knee from derotating in unnatural ways. Accelerating, decelerating and turning puts torsional stress on the knee. The ACL prevents that twisting.

An injury is often accompanied by a pop and/or the knee giving out. It typically swells but doesn’t need emergency treatment. A stabilizer and anti-inflammatory are the usual treatment. The injury can recover in several weeks.

An ACL tear will not repair itself and leads to knee instability. Rest, ice, compression and elevation can help the knee feel normal again. Physical therapy can help with swelling, soreness and mobility. Nearly every athlete is offered ACL repair surgery because they want to return to athletic activity. Bracing is effective for those who opt out of ACL repair surgery and engage only in low-level physical activity.

ACL Injury Prevention

Neuromuscular training is the best prevention. It teaches the body how to land, jump and cut properly. This could reduce ACL injuries in women by 50% but is also effective for men.

Minding fatigue and resting your body can reduce your body’s required recovery time. If your child is involved in two sports, be sure she’s getting the necessary time to recover from athletic endeavors.

Stick to efficient workouts and get plenty of sleep.

Listen as Dr. Eric Chehab joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to prevent and treat ACL injuries.

More than 15 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This disease, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, affects the cartilage in joints and may cause pain, stiffness, swelling and a limited range of motion in the knees and hips.
 
If you have osteoarthritis, surgery to replace or resurface joints becomes an option if your quality of life is greatly diminished by the disease and you have difficulty carrying out activities of daily living.

Listen as Dr. Ramon Soriano, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon and member of the Medical Staff at Doctors Hospital of Laredo discusses how surgeons at Doctors Hospital use Mako™ robotic-arm assisted surgery for knee replacement (knee resurfacing) to improve the quality of life for knee pain sufferers.

The knee is a hinge joint with tendons and ligaments on all sides. It’s only intended to move in one plane, front and back. Some sports require rapid change of direction while on the knee. The tendons and ligaments that should stabilize can be damaged.

There are two major types of knee injuries. In sports enthusiasts who play burst activity, knee issues usually involve ligaments and muscles being torn. The older crowd faces knee pain from gradual degenerative disorders, often with the joint itself or the cartilage.

You can usually remember the exact moment your knee was injured, pinpointing a specific instance when the pain started. You may hear a pop. You may have some swelling a few hours after the injury. You may not be able to stop the activity because of the pain. If you’ve just injured your knee, the inflammatory phase lasts about three days. Use the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, elevation.

There are some preventative measures you can take. While you can’t alter genetics and the angle of your knee joint, you can strengthen your knees. A combination of aerobics, resistance, flexibility and balance training will make you less likely to run into injuries than being an occasional sports participant. Warming up plays a significant role in preventing injury. Some antibiotics and medications can make you more prone to certain injuries. It may be best to refrain from exercise until any illness has passed.

A proper program for joint recovery can provide good results or knee injury. It strengthens the tendons and ligaments. It also stimulates production of the shock absorption fluid in the knees.

When you return to physical activity you may want to work slower and with fewer reps. It’s best to work just below the pain threshold. Give yourself a three to six month break from the exercise that led to the injury. Low impact exercises are best for healing. Try swimming, cycling, or fast walking. Pull back if you have difficulty. Braces are handy early in the healing process, but your knee needs some stress to strengthen itself.

Listen in as Dr. John Higgins discusses how you can take care of your knees.