ORTHOLILL >> themen im fokus >> Knee Section
The human knee joint has a complex structure and a complicated mechanism. It also is the largest joint in the body and
endures continuous stress, e.g. by simply walking. Progressive wear and tear leads to osteoarthritis. Left untreated,
knee pain can become a debilitating condition and in many cases an artificial joint replacement (endoprosthesis) has
to be implanted.
In addition to wear-related changes of the knee joint, sports injuries or accidents can cause trauma.
Not only can the meniscus be torn during a sports accident also the ACL/PCL and the collateral ligament can be
ruptured. In the worst case the cartilageputty or bone of the particular surface is compromised. Following an accurate
diagnosis, where applicable by MRI, the knee joint is re-established by minimally invasive arthroscopic technique
(keyhole technique).
If the wear and tear in the knee joint is already far advanced a total knee replacement, a
unicompartmental knee joint replacement sometimes in combination with realigning the knee axis might be necessary. The
application of cement-free, partially-cemented or cemented endoprostheses depends on the patient’s individual needs.
By minimally invasive surgery (MIS) the surrounding tissue can not only be optimally spared, post-operative pain and
rehabilitation time can also be reduced.
