Causes of Knee Pain

Knee pain can be caused by injuries (ligament tears, meniscus damage), arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis), overuse (tendinitis, bursitis), or mechanical issues (patellar malalignment, OA). Other factors include obesity, infections, and metabolic conditions like gout.

Common Causes

• Osteoarthritis (OA): Degeneration of knee cartilage.
• Muscle and Tendon Tears: Includes quadriceps, hamstrings, and adductors.
• Baker’s Cyst: Fluid-filled swelling behind the knee.
• Ligament Tears: Medial and lateral collateral ligaments, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).
• Meniscus Tears: Cartilage damage within the knee.
• Fat Pad Impingement Syndromes: Inflammation or irritation of fat pads around the knee.
• Nerve Entrapments: Tibial and common peroneal nerve compression.

Knee Ultrasound:

High-resolution ultrasound plays a key role in diagnosing shoulder conditions. Unlike static imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, or X-ray, ultrasound allows for dynamic real-time evaluation, detecting specific issues that occur during certain movements and positions.

Conditions Diagnosed Via Ultrasound:

• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Muscle and tendon tears
• Bakers cyst
• Medial and lateral collateral ligament tears
• Fat impingement syndromes
• Nerve entrapments- Tibial, Common peroneal

Other imaging methods include

• Radiograph ( X-rays ) - - It helps us in identifying the bony pathologies like bones alignment issues, fractures or tumors etc.
• CT - Provides us the detailed images of bones and joints, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment planning. They help detect fractures, bone tumors, and joint disorders, enhancing patient care and outcomes.
• MRI - Provides us the detailed images of soft tissues, muscles, and joints helping detection of conditions like ligament tears, cartilage damage, and joint abnormalities
• 3D CT - Helps us in identifying the exact fracture lines , fragments orientation and planning of exact surgeries
• Diagnostic Arthroscopy –This minimally invasive procedure helps allowing direct visualization of joints and helps in detecting joint abnormalities, injuries, and conditions for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning

Minimally Invasive Treatments

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Growth factor concentrate (GFC) therapy
• Fluid aspiration
• Genicular nerve blocks
• Steroid injections

Surgical Option:

• Total knee replacement (TKR)
• Unicondylar knee replacement (partial replacement)
• Diagnostic arthroscopy and repairs
• ACL & PCL reconstruction
• Meniscus repair
• Meniscectomy
• Arthroscopy, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for fractures, and elbow replacement (arthroplasty)
• High tibial osteotomy (HTO)
• Correction for valgus and varus deformities