Knee Surgery Specialist

What are the components of the knee joint?  

Five types of tissue compose the knee joint:

• The bones of the femur (thigh), tibia (shin), and patella (kneecap)
• Cartilage that covers the ends of the femur and tibia and the back of the patella
• Meniscal cartilage, two shock absorber wedges that stabilize and cushion the joint
• Collateral and cruciate ligaments, which connect bones and, in the case of the knee, stabilize and hold bones together
• Tendons, the connectors between bones and muscles

What common injuries affect the knees?

The complexity of the knee joint, with its many components, make it vulnerable to a wide range of injuries. Add to that the strain placed on the knees from the weight of the body and the role the knees play in mobility, and it’s astonishing that knee injuries are not even more common. Frequently, knee injuries include more than one type of damage.

The most common injuries affecting the knees are typically:

• Fractures: The patella is the most frequently broken bone of the knee joint, although the ends of both the femur and tibia also may suffer fractures
• Dislocations: The patella is subject to dislocation, and the alignment of the femur and tibia also can fail due to structural abnormality or high-energy impact
• Anterior cruciate ligament damage: Frequently occurring in sports, ACL injuries result from fast changes of direction or heavy impact resulting from jumps
• Collateral ligament damage: This typically results from sideways contact, either from the outside or inside of the knee
• Torn meniscus: This injury frequently results from the twisting, turning, and impact of sports activities
• Tendon tears: Such stretching and tearing is more common in middle-aged people who engage in running and jumping sports.

What surgical techniques can repair damaged knees?

Dr. Abeles performs many surgical repairs to the knees, including:

• Meniscal tear repairs
• ACL reconstruction
• Chondral repair and chondroplasty: repairs to worn or damaged cartilage
• Joint resurfacing: partial replacement of the knee joint, typically only the parts where damage exists

Dr. Abeles also offers viscosupplementation, which is an injection of lubricating fluids, such as hyaluronic acid, to counter the effects of osteoarthritis. It works to reduce pain and increase joint mobility.