Knee Surgery

The orthopedic surgeons at MetroSouth Medical Center are experienced in performing both arthroscopic repair procedures of knee ligaments and cartilage.  They also specialize in performing knee replacement surgery for patients with disease impacting the whole joint.  To schedule an appointment for a surgical evaluation or second opinion with a MetroSouth Medical Center orthopedic surgeon, call 708-489-7925.

Arthroscopy is a diagnostic procedure for joint problems. During the procedure, the surgeon examines and often repairs diseased joints with the aid of a tiny device called an arthroscope. The arthroscope allows the surgeon to see inside the joint and consists of a lens, light source and fiber optics encased in a tube with a video camera attached. Common arthroscopic procedures performed for knee pain and injury at MetroSouth Medical Center include:

• Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction:
  When the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is torn, the knee joint becomes unstable, giving way during physical activity. Unless the ACL is repaired, the knee will continue to give out frequently, causing damage to the cartilage. Surgeons can repair the ACL using part of a tendon in the knee. That graft is threaded through holes drilled in the lower leg bone or tibia and upper leg bone or femur. Following a successful surgery, new blood vessels grow into the tendon, allowing it to function as the original ligament did. This procedure is often done arthroscopically using tiny instruments through a small incision. Hospitalization is not usually necessary.

• Arthroscopic meniscal surgery and repair:
  The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee that separates the thigh bone or femur from the lower leg bone or tibia. In this surgery, a worn section of the meniscus is replaced with new tissue from a donor. This procedure is relatively simple, because there is no blood supply to most parts of the meniscus.
   
• Athroscopic microfracture procedure for knee arthritis:
  To treat the patient who may only have a small area of damaged cartilage, microfracture may be performed. This procedure creates small holes in the bone to stimulate new cartilage growth.

• Arthroscopic synovectomy:
  Synovectomy is performed to remove part or all of the synovial membrane in a joint primarily to relieve pain and often to delay more complex surgery.
   
• Patellar realignment:
  Patellar realignment is surgery used for patients experiencing ongoing anterior knee pain, dislocation of the patella or patello-femoral arthritis. The procedure involves moving the patella tendon and securing it with one or two screws, allowing the kneecap to sit more centrally.
   

Should your condition worsen, knee replacement surgery might be necessary to relieve or reduce your pain. For about 35 years, doctors have been implanting artificial knees, and over that time their techniques and instruments have improved dramatically. Today, knee replacement is one of the safest and most successful operations, with nine of every 10 patients reporting significant relief from pain, increased stability and mobility with few complications.

If you’re not getting pain relief from more conservative measures and must restrict your activities, it’s time to talk with your doctor about knee replacement surgery and other minimally-invasive options.

If you have damage to both sides of the knee, total knee replacement may be needed, which requires doctors to cut the anterior cruciate ligament, a strong band of connective tissue that stabilizes the joint. Then they remove three sections of the knee – known as the medial compartment, the lateral compartment and the patella. After removal of the damaged parts of the joint, the surgeon resurfaces the bone, and cements new metal or plastic pieces in place.

There are several different designs for patients in need of artificial knee joints. Doctors at MetroSouth Medical Center have experience with all of them and can help you decide which is best.