

KNEE SURGERY

	KNEE REPLACEMENT ARTHROSCOPIC PROCEDURES KNEE ANATOMY AND FUNCTION
KNEE CONDITIONS

	PATELLAR TENDONITIS CHONDROMALACIA PATELLA RUNNERS KNEE BAKER'S CYST BURSITIS ARTHRITIS OSTEOARTHRITIS PLICA SYNDROME OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE OSTEOCHONDRITIS (OCD) PATELLOFEMORAL DISORDERS
KNEE INJURIES

	ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY (ACL) ARTICULAR CARTILAGE LESIONS LATERAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURY (LCL) MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURY (MCL) PATELLAR TENDON RUPTURE POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY (PCL) TORN MENISCUS (Cartilage) FRACTURES & DISLOCATIONS
PATIENT RESOURCES

	SPORTS RELATED KNEE INJURIES BEFORE KNEE SURGERY KNEE SURGERY RECOVERY Insurance Carriers

Arthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis. Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is characterized by gradual wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. As the protective cartilage is worn away by knee arthritis, bare bone is left unprotected within the joint.

Who develops knee arthritis?

Knee arthritis usually affects patients over 50 years of age. It is much more common in patients who are overweight, and weight loss tends to diminish the symptoms related with knee arthritis. There is also a genetic predisposition to this condition, meaning knee arthritis tends to run in families. Other factors that can contribute to developing knee arthritis include trauma to the knee, meniscus tears or ligament damage, and fractures to the bone around the joint.

Many people suffer from arthritis; the pain and discomfort can be so limiting that some patients may require a total knee joint replacement. Knee replacement surgery often allows the patient to regain much of their mobility.

Swelling of the knee joint from arthritis can lead to a localized collection of fluid accumulating in a cyst behind the knee. This is referred to as a Baker cyst and is a common cause of pain at the back of the knee.