A Closer Look at Your Knee (And What Can Go Wrong)

You rely on your knees every day to help you walk, sit, stand, and carry out your daily responsibilities. When something happens to this complex joint, it can make your life miserable and cause difficulty carrying out even the simplest of tasks, like standing from a seated position.  

At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare in San Diego, Encinitas, and Temecula, California, we offer a comprehensive line of orthopedic services. Our board-certified surgeons, David Chao, MD, and Matthew Gargulinski, DO, specialize in diagnosing and treating many types of knee conditions. 

We also believe in empowering our patients through education. To that end, we’ve created this short guide explaining how your knee works, common conditions of the knee, and how we treat them. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about this complex joint.

The anatomy of your knee

Your knees are the biggest joints in your body. Each knee is made up of four principal components: bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. 

1. Bones

Your knee joint forms at the junction between three major bones: the femur, or thighbone; the tibia, or shin bone; and the patella, or knee cap.  

2. Cartilage

The ends of each leg bone have cartilage, a slippery, protective covering that keeps your knee functional by helping the bones glide smoothly when you move. 

You also have tough, rubbery cartilage between the leg bones called meniscus. Meniscal cartilage stabilizes the knee joint and absorbs shock when you walk, jump, and move.  

3. Ligaments

Ligaments connect your bones together and keep your knee stable and in place. The knee has two types of ligaments: 

• Collateral ligaments are on the sides of your knees and help with sideways motions as well as preventing harmful movements; they are called the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL)
• Cruciate ligaments are inside the knee joint and control forward and backward motions; they are called the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL)

4. Tendons

Tendons connect your muscles and bones. The knee includes a tendon that runs from your thigh to the patella (quadriceps tendon) and a tendon from the kneecap to the shin (patellar tendon).

Common knee problems

Because your knee joint is made up of many different components, it’s vulnerable to a variety of injuries and conditions. Though there are many knee problems, some of the most common include:

• Fractures of the patella 
• Fractures of the leg bones at the knee joint
• Knee dislocation
• Knee ligament (ACL, PCL, and MCL) strains, sprains, or tears 
• Meniscal (cartilage) tears
• Tendon tears and tendonitis
• Osteoarthritis of the knee
• Knee bursitis
• Iliotibial band syndrome

If you’re struggling with knee pain or a knee injury, your OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare provider conducts a physical examination, reviews your medical history, and orders additional tests if needed, such as X-ray, MRI or CT scan, or diagnostic arthroscopy, to accurately diagnose your condition. 

Treating knee conditions

The right treatment for your knee condition depends on the nature of your condition or injury, current symptoms, overall health and health history, and other factors, such as the results of preliminary imaging or past procedures.   

At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare, our board-certified orthopedists specialize in treating knee injuries of all kinds. Some of the most common knee treatments include:

• ACL reconstruction surgery
• Arthroscopic surgery
• Meniscal repair and/or transplant
• Partial and complete knee replacements
• Cartilage regrowth or repair
• Surgical repair or realignment of the knee cap

The goal of every knee treatment is to restore your mobility, improve knee strength and function, and reduce knee pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Your orthopedist recommends the best solution for your unique situation and takes time to address any questions or concerns you have.   

If you’ve sustained a knee injury or want more information about this amazing joint, contact OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare in Southern California by calling the office nearest you. You may also schedule an appointment online.