Treatment of the Knee Murrieta Sports Medicine
Because it bears a great deal of the body weight, and large forces are placed on the joint, the knee is one of the most common sites for injuries and arthritis. When your knees hurt, it’s difficult to have an active lifestyle. At our Murrieta sports medicine clinic, Dr. Erwteman treats many people with knee problems, helping them to return to their desired level of function.
Knee Injuries Murrieta Sports Medicine
There are several injuries of the knee that may be treated surgically. You may have heard of some of these structures, because these injuries are relatively common. Knee injuries may occur while playing a variety of sports, including soccer, football, basketball, and running.
Ligament Injuries Murrieta Sports Medicine
The knee contains several ligaments that help to stabilize it and prevent it from becoming dislocated. One of these is the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, which you may have heard of; however, there are also several others. When a knee ligament is damaged, a surgical procedure may be required to return the knee to proper functioning. If the damage is not repaired, there may be instability of the knee. The abnormal movement patterns that develop due to this instability can lead to knee problems later in life.
At our Murrieta sports medicine clinic, Dr. Erwteman performs knee ligament repair arthroscopically whenever possible. In some cases, the ligament is replaced with a new ligament, while in other cases, the patient’s own ligament can be repaired. Arthroscopic knee ligament repair allows for an easier recovery than an open procedure, and is used in nearly all patients.
Meniscal Injuries Murrieta Sports Medicine
A meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee. There are two in each knee, and they help the joint to function properly. When a meniscus is torn, symptoms including knee pain and locking up of the joint may result.
Surgical repair can often be done arthroscopically. In some cases, the broken pieces of meniscus will be put back together, but it’s often necessary to take out a small piece of the meniscus. This is because each meniscus is made of cartilage, which heals very poorly, and so a meniscus that’s sewn back together after damage may never heal properly. Instead, removing the damaged part allows the rest of the meniscus, which remains smooth, to function well.
Tendon and Cartilage Repair Murrieta Sports Medicine
Other structures in and around the knee joint include tendons, which connect muscle to bone. When these structures are damaged, patients may benefit from surgical repair. Whenever possible, we complete these repairs arthroscopically.
Knee Arthritis Murrieta Sports Medicine
Arthritis of the knee can greatly interfere with your lifestyle. The most common type of arthritis in the knee is osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage of the knee joint wears away over time. In some people, this is associated with a previous injury, but the cause is not always obvious. Although there are many treatment options, some patients benefit from surgical treatment of their condition. For some patients, this may include smoothing out any roughened cartilage surfaces and removing debris from the joint.
Knee Arthroplasty Murrieta Sports Medicine
In some cases, knee replacement (known medically as arthroplasty) is recommended. For this procedure, the damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with artificial surfaces. Some experts advocate calling the surgery knee resurfacing rather than knee replacement,because it’s only the surface of the bones that is altered during the procedure. Most people who have a knee arthroplasty have an improved quality of life after the procedure, including reduced pain and an increased ability to perform activities.
At our Murrieta sports medicine clinic, we see many patients who benefit greatly from knee arthroplasty. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations, and Dr. Erwteman will be candid with you in discussing what you can expect after your surgery.
