Western Orthopaedics-Knee

The knee is a hinge joint between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (leg bone).  It is made more complex by the patella or knee cap which glides over the top of the femur.  The end of the femur is round and the top of the tibia is flat.  This geometry is not fundamentally stable and injury to the ligaments within the knee can lead to joint instability and poor function.  The cartilage and menisci, which serve as cushions between the two bone ends can also be injured and can be painful. 

To learn more about painful conditions of the please feel free to visit the links below.

Common Conditions of the Knee:

Doctors that specialize in this area:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

  The anterior cruciate ligament is one of four main stabilizing ligaments in the knee.

• Knee Ligament Injuries

  Ligaments are rope like bands of tough, leathery tissue that stabilize our joints.

• Patellfemoral Syndrome

  The patella is the formal name for the knee cap. This bone lies on the front of the knee joint and is encased in the quadriceps muscle.

• Patellofemoral Instability

  The patella occasionally can dislocate or pop out the knee joint to the outside.

• Meniscal Tears

  The knee joints is the meeting place of 2 large bones - the femur and tibia.

• Patellar Tendon Tear

  This is a significant injury to the ligament that attaches the kneecap to the lower leg.

• Quadriceps Tendon Tear

  This is a significant injury that typically occurs in older athletes.

• Tendonitis

  Tendonitis is a medical word used to describe inflammation of a tendon. A tendon attaches muscle to bone.

• Arthritis of the Knee

  Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis of the knee is an increasingly common problem involving both men and women.