To better understand how knee problems occur, it is important to understand some of the anatomy of the knee joint and how the parts of the knee work together to maintain normal function. Highly Reputable

Arthroscopic surgery is probably the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedure worldwide. The field has broadened to include other major joints, such as shoulders and elbows, and soft-tissue repair of torn or ruptured tendons and ligaments. Fibre optics, digital technology and miniature cameras have resulted in ultra-thin instruments that can relay back to a monitor a crystal-clear image in full living colour. Surgeons also have at their disposal specialized instruments that can cut tissue in different ways, as well as electrical "ablators" that burn away tissue or stop minor bleeding. Torn cartilage and osteoarthritis (OA) are the most common reasons for referrals for arthroscopic knee surgery. Since cartilage tears most often result from sports injuries, patients tend to be younger (50 and under). By contrast, patients with moderate to severe knee OA tend to be older (65 and above). Highly Reputable

The knee - formed where the bottom of the thigh bone (femur) meets the top of the shin bone (tibia) - is arguably the body's largest and most complex weight-bearing joint. When the knee is healthy, the joint moves freely. This is because the joint is covered with white elastic materials called cartilage and powered by large muscles. Highly Reputable

Definition Knee arthroscopic surgery is a procedure performed through small incisions in the skin to repair injuries to tissues such as ligaments, cartilage, or bone within the knee joint area. The surgery is conducted with the aid of an arthroscope, which is a very small instrument guided by a lighted scope attached to a television monitor. Other instruments are inserted through three incisions around the knee. Arthroscopic surgeries range from minor procedures such as flushing or smoothing out bone surfaces or tissue fragments (lavage and debridement) associated with osteoarthritis, to the realignment of a dislocated knee and ligament grafting surgeries. The range of surgeries represents very different procedures, risks, and aftercare requirements. While the clear advantages of arthrocopic surgery lie in surgery with less anesthetic, less cutting, and less recovery time, this surgery nonetheless requires a very thorough examination of the causes of knee injury or pain prior to a decision for surgery. Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers Expert

Knee Surgery The knee is, if anything, mechanically a more complex joint than the hip. Whilst serious hip problems are relatively rare in the younger, more active patient; knee trouble of one form or other can present at any age. Sporting injuries of varying severity are very common! Many knee problems will settle spontaneously given time, anti-inflammatories and perhaps physiotherapy. It is useful to remember the mnemonic R.I.C.E. Rest Ice: Ice-packs (crushed ice/frozen peas in a bag covered by a towel) Compression: by a supportive bandage wrapped around the knee. Elevation: best is to lie flat so knee is above level of heart. If these measures do not restore adequate knee function quickly, see your GP who will advise whether specialist referral is necessary. Expert

LET THERE BE LIGHT knee arthroscopy reveals the inside story The story behind the discovery of arthroscopy goes something like this: In exchange for English lessons, Dr. Masaki Watanabe would teach the young Canadian surgeon his experimental technique for corrective knee surgery. The year was 1964, and Dr. Robert W. Jackson was in Tokyo on a clinical scholarship that included providing orthopaedic care to the Canadian team competing at the nearby Olympics. Jackson, following up on a suggestion from one of his professors, was skeptical at first since Watanabe seemed to be toiling away in professional obscurity. Using instruments that, by today's standards, could only be described as crude, Watanabe inserted a thin optical device with a tiny bulb at its end through a small incision near the kneecap and then shone a light on the inside of a knee joint. You could actually see! Furthermore, through another small incision, he could insert another instrument that could snip away torn cartilage. To fully appreciate the impact of the arthroscopic revolution, consider this: At the time, the standard surgical procedure for "catching" or "locking" knees was to surgically open the knee joint to see first-hand what the problem was and then correct it - major surgery for what were, in essence, fairly minor injuries. In professional sports, many a promising athletic career had been cut short by repeated major knee surgeries and their long recovery times. As he headed back to North America in 1965 with a No. 21 arthroscope in his luggage, Robert Jackson realized he was carrying the answer to a head coach's prayer. Deemed a curiosity at first, now some 40 years later, arthroscopic surgery is probably the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedure worldwide. The field has broadened to include other major joints (such as shoulders and elbows) and soft-tissue repair of torn or ruptured tendons and ligaments. Fibre optics, digital technology and miniature cameras have resulted in ultra-thin instruments that can relay back to a monitor a crystal-clear image in full living colour. Highly Reputable

TAKING IT IN STRIDE Our knees juggle the pressures of everyday life When he was just starting his graduate studies in mechanical engineering, David Wilson decided to sit in on an anatomy lecture about the knee: "The professor got up and said, 'If you were called on to design a knee, you could certainly do a better job than Nature has.' You know, I disagreed with him then, and I disagree with him now." An account of the mechanics of the knee joint Highly Reputable

SCOI Presents Anatomy of the Knee

Knee injury, knee surgery, knee rehabilitation - follow the KNEEguru to find the information you (k)need. Do you seek enlightenment about with knee anatomy or medical terminology? Well, you have come to the right place.

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UW - Madison - MRI Knee

This booklet contains general information about several knee problems. It includes descriptions and a diagram of the different parts of the knee. Individual sections of the booklet describe the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of specific types of knee injuries and conditions. Highly Reputable

AAOS Online Service Fact SheetThe Knee Highly Reputable

The Department of Orthopaedics is actively involved in quality patient care, teaching, and research concerning bone and joint problems. Special areas of expertise include foot and ankle, hand and microvascular, hip and knee, arthritis, sports medicine, pe

Archive Copy 2004: Orthopedic diagnosis. Knee effusion Expert