Knee Surgery in Chesterfield, MO

The knee is the largest joint in the body and is made up of three bones, cartilage, four main ligaments, and tendons. Pain in your knee can derive from an acute knee injury or from a degenerative condition that occurs from wear and tear over time. To learn more about the knee injuries the orthopedic surgeons at Woods Mill Orthopedics treat, call our orthopedic surgery center in Chesterfield and O’Fallon at (314) 576-7013.

Knee Injuries

The most common sports injuries of the knee are sprains and tears of the soft tissues, including the ligaments, tendons, or the meniscus. Other knee injuries include:

• Kneecap dislocation: is when the kneecap (patella) partially or completely slides out of place.
• Kneecap fracture: is the most common broken bone because it is vulnerable to a direct hit in a fall or accident.
• Patella femoral (knee) pain: is caused by injury or overuse of the cartilage under the kneecap.
• Chondromalacia: is also known as runner’s knee and is when the cartilage under the kneecap deteriorates or softens.
• ACL injury: is a tearing of one of the four main ligaments in the knee that provides stability to the knee joint.
• Meniscal injury: is a tearing of two rubbery disks that help cushion the knee joint, and can occur at the same time as other knee injuries.

Knee Arthritis

There are many different types of knee arthritis in existence, but the most common form is osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis results in the cartilage in the knee joint wearing away and causing the bones to rub against each other. This condition develops slowly and the symptoms can worsen over time. Common symptoms include the pain, “locking” or “sticking” of the knee during movement, a feeling of weakness, or the joint becoming stiff or swollen.

There are many non-surgical treatment options to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee including lifestyle and activity modifications, physical therapy, using a cane, wearing a brace, taking pain relievers, or getting joint injections.

In most cases, knee replacement surgery treats symptoms of arthritis in the knee and improves mobility. During a knee replacement, the damaged cartilage and bone is replaced with metal or plastic parts.