The knee injury treatment that you get at AOS is unique in Atlanta for its speed and expert delivery. Our staff of orthopedic surgeons aren’t trying to get you under a knife – goal is to heal you using minimum intervention.

Only about 1 percent of our patients actually require surgery; but when you have an orthopedic surgeon looking at your knee you’ll experience the highest level of care.

Our doctors are joint experts and use every means to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan.

INSIDE YOUR KNEE

The bones in your knee are three:
 

• Thighbone (femur)
• Shinbone (tibia)
• Kneecap (patella)

 
These join with soft tissue to create the joint that bonds your upper and lower legs.
 

• The articular cartilage is the material that covers the ends of your femur and tibia, as well the backside of your patella. This is a slick tissue that allows the joint to move easily without friction.
• To keep the shock of your joint under control, the meniscus is a large wedge of cartilage that separates the upper femur and lower tibia.
• You have the two categories of collateral and cruciate ligaments in your knee. The collateral ligaments are strung along either side of the knee – the medial collateral ligament is inside. The lateral collateral ligament is on the outside. The cruciate ligaments are on the inside of the knee and cross one another to allow your controlled motion.

 
Finally, the tendons connect your muscles to the bones – the top quadriceps are attached with a tendon to the patella, and the shinbone is attached with your patellar tendon.

KNEE INJURIES

Knowing the structural components of your knees, you’ll better understand the injuries that you may encounter. While the knee is stronger and, in form, simpler than your shoulder, the knee can still be hurt by fracture, sports injuries, accidents and breakdown over time.
 

FRACTURES

As the most exposed area of the knee, the patella is prone to fracture, as are the ends of the femur and tibia. Fractures can happen when you fall from a roof, get into a car accident or sports injury.
 

• The patella is fractured in only about 1 percent of bone breaks, usually in people aged 20 to 50.
• The femoral condyles is one of the bottom supports of the femur that creates the knee joint. These projections of bone are commonly broken when pushed too hard.
• The tibial eminence is the top projection of the tibia, but you experience this area as the lowest part of your knee. It can break in an accident, affecting the tibial eminence or the adjacent tibial plateau. This break is most often found in young patients of 8-14 years, or in patients with osteoporosis.

DISLOCATION

Dislocation happens when the knee bones are moved from their proper place. There are five kinds:
 

• anterior
• posterior
• medial
• lateral
• rotary

 
These are further defined by high and low velocity. A high velocity dislocation may occur in a fall or a car accident and include bone, tissue and neurovascular damage. A low velocity dislocation usually happens during sports injuries and is much less destructive, bringing with it a better prognosis.
 

SOFT TISSUE TEARS

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is often hurt when athletes quickly change direction. There is also the posterior cruciate ligament, which is hurt when the knee is bent and struck in the front, such as during a car accident. Collateral ligaments on either side of the knee can be torn, as can the meniscus that pads between the knee bones. The tendons that connect your muscles to the bone can also tear.
 

HEAL YOUR KNEE AT AOS

Our orthopedic surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating your knee pain and injury. We always opt for non-surgical measures when appropriate, and our experienced sports injury doctors use our in house open MRI machines and CT scanners to find your best plan for treatment.

This includes stabilizing the joint and helping you undertake physical therapy targeted to heal the unique pain that is in your knee. If you’ve already had surgery you can also do your physical therapy and rehabilitation with AOS.

Call us 24/7 and make an appointment with our knee team at