Knee

The knee is the largest, most complex joint and is therefore very vulnerable to injury. The part of the knee between the end of the thigh bone (femur) and the top of the shin bone (tibia) is called the tibiofemoral joint.

Dr. H.F. Visser knee

Between the end of the thigh bone (femur) and the kneecap (patella) is the patellofemoral joint. The bones are covered by smooth joint surface cartilage that allows them to move smoothly.

Cruciate ligaments are found inside the knee joint & cross each other to form an “X” with the anterior cruciate ligament in front. The posterior cruciate ligament at the back. The cruciate ligaments control the back and forth motion of your knee.

Collateral ligaments are found on the sides of your knee. The medial (inside) collateral ligament (MCL) connects the femur to the tibia. The lateral (outside) collateral ligament (LCL) connects the femur to the smaller bone in the lower leg (fibula). The collateral ligaments control the sideways motion of the knee.

There are two meniscal cartilages in the knee that act as shock absorbers. Their job is to evenly distribute the load from the thigh bone to shin bone when walking and to provide knee stability. If the menisci are damaged, this can cause the cartilage beneath to become damaged and develop arthritis.

The complexity of the knee joint makes it susceptible to acute injuries. If the joint surface is damaged through wear and tear or a knee injury, arthritis can develop. Knee injuries may often occur from overuse or repetitive overload and this can lead to a wide range of knee symptoms and conditions.

Dr. Visser is experienced arthroscopic surgery and has incorporated the use of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of applicable bone and soft tissue problems.

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