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ACL Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located toward the front of the knee and is the ligament of the knee that controls rotation and forward movement of the tibia (shin bone).
It is one of the most common ligaments to be injured. The ACL is often stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way).
Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
Diagnostic procedures may include the following:
Symptoms
Often, a cruciate ligament injury does not cause pain. Instead, the person may hear a popping sound as the injury occurs, followed by the leg buckling when trying to stand on it, and swelling.
Treatments
Treatments include:
- medication such as ibuprofen
- muscle-strengthening exercises
- protective knee brace (for use during exercise)
- ice pack application (to reduce swelling)
- surgery
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.
Fractures
A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture occurs, it is classified as either open or closed:
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open fracture (Also called compound fracture.) - the bone exits and is visible through the skin, or a deep wound that exposes the bone through the skin.
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closed fracture (Also called simple fracture.) - the bone is broken, but the skin is intact.
Diagnostic procedures may include the following:
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of a fracture:
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pain in the injured area
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swelling in the injured area
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obvious deformity in the injured area
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difficulty using or moving the injured area in a normal manner
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warmth, bruising, or redness in the injured area
Treatment
Treatments may include:
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splint/cast
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medication
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traction
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surgery
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure used for conditions of a joint. Originally, arthroscopy was a diagnostic tool only, used primarily for planning a standard open surgery. However, because of the development of new instruments and advanced surgical techniques, many conditions can also be treated with arthroscopic surgery.
The following are the conditions most frequently discovered during an arthroscopic procedure:
Treatment
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.
Torn Meniscus
The ends of the three bones in the knee - the femur, tibia, and patella - are covered with cartilage (a smooth material that covers bone ends of a joint to cushion the bone and allow the joint to move easily without pain) that acts as a shock absorber. Between the bones of the knees are two crescent-shaped discs of connective tissue, called menisci, which also act as shock absorbers to cushion the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body.
Meniscus tears can occur during a rotating movement while bearing weight, such as when twisting the upper leg while the foot stays in one place during sports and other activities. Tears can be minor, with the meniscus staying connected to the knee, or major, with the meniscus barely attached to the knee by a cartilage thread.
Diagnostic procedures may include the following:
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of a torn meniscus. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- pain, especially when holding the knee straight
- swelling
- knee may click or lock
- knee may feel weak
Treatment
Treatments include:
- icing
- medication such as ibuprofen
- muscle-strengthening exercises
- arthroscopic surgery
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.
O.A.T.S.
OATS or osteoarticular transfer system, is a surgical procedure used to treat cartilage defects in the knee, where the cartilage has worn away or is missing. Cartilage defect can be due to trauma, and is commonly found with other injuries, including ACL and MCL tears.
Diagnostic procedures may include the following:
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness in the knee
Treatment
In an OATS procedure, holes left where cartilage is missing are “plugged” with cartilage from a non-weight baring area of the knee (autograft) or by using cadaver bone (allograft).
This treatment is only used for small areas of cartilage damage, usually limited to 10-20 mm in size. This type of damage is usually seen in younger patients (less than 50 years old) who experience a trauma to their joint.
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.
Knee Replacement Surgery
When a knee is so severely damaged by disease or injury, an artificial knee replacement may be considered. Approximately 500,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed annually in the US. The most common age for knee replacement is between ages 60 to 80 years old.
The most common condition that results in the need for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis, a degenerative, joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the knees.
Although each procedure varies, generally, surgery to replace a knee usually lasts about two hours. After the damaged bone and cartilage of the knee is removed, the orthopedic surgeon will place the new artificial knee in its place.
The two most common types of knee prostheses used in replacement surgeries are cemented prosthesis and uncemented prosthesis. Sometime, a combination of the two types is used to replace a knee. A knee prosthesis is made up of metal and plastic. A cemented prosthesis is attached to the bone with a type of epoxy. An uncemented prosthesis attaches to the bone with a fine mesh of holes on the surface, in order for the bone to grow into the mesh and attach naturally to the prosthesis.
Diagnostic procedures may include the following:
Treatment
A knee prosthesis is made up of metal and plastic.
The prosthesis (artificial knee) is comprised of the following three components:
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tibial component (to replace the top of the tibia, or shin bone)
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femoral component (to replace the two femoral [thighbone] condyles and the patella groove)
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patellar component (to replace the bottom surface of the kneecap that rubs against the thighbone)
After Surgery/Recovery
Physical Therapy is a critical part of complete recovery. Our doctors recommend DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, with 30 convenient locations across southeastern Michigan. To find one near you, click here.