Orthopaedics

Knee pain – finding the causes and treating them successfully

The knee is one of the most heavily stressed joints in our body. Standing up, walking, bending, stretching – all these activities become torture when the knee hurts. After all, we owe our mobility, flexibility and stability to our knees.

The entire knee joint is encased in a joint capsule. In the center of the knee are two intersecting ligaments, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These are largely responsible for the stability of our knee joint. Both the cruciate ligaments and the collateral ligaments connect the femur to the tibia. The two menisci (outer and inner meniscus) also give the knee stability. They are located between the upper and lower leg bones and consist of stronger fibrous cartilage.

The complex structure of the knee joint means that finding the cause of knee pain can also be complex. Knee pain is most frequently caused by an injury to the knee or by wear and tear to the cartilage or menisci that is not visible on the outside at first. Specialists can quickly determine the cause and treat it effectively. It is therefore important to consult an orthopaedic specialist or knee specialist as soon as possible.

At the ETHIANUM, knee experts and specialists in orthopaedics and trauma surgery Prof. Dr. Holstein and Priv.- Doz. Dr. med. Philipp A. Michel are on hand to advise and support you with knee pain. Prof. Dr. Holstein is a specialist in minimally invasive surgery and an expert in hip and knee endoprosthetics. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Michel uses robot-assisted surgical methods to perform knee operations with the utmost precision.

In addition to excellent specialists in knee and hip endoprosthetics, the ETHIANUM offers you state-of-the-art medical equipment for the treatment of your orthopaedic knee pain. We are one of the few clinics in the region to use the innovative CORI™ robotic system from Smith & Nephew, which significantly supports our experts in optimally adapting the joint replacement to your individual anatomy.

In addition to our in-house X-ray and ultrasound equipment, we offer our clients a state-of-the-art MRI machine that provides razor-sharp images for the precise diagnosis of knee pain . In cooperation with the in-house physiotherapy practice, you can also rely on further treatment at the ETHIANUM.

We have summarized the diseases and causes that frequently cause knee pain. You will also find treatment methods that our specialists use and recommend.

Our SpecialistS

OUR DOCTORS AT THE ETHIANUM

Expertise, empathy and the best medical specialists – you will find all of this concentrated in our experts. Find out more about the specialists for knee and hip endoprosthetics at the ETHIANUM.

ORTHOPAEDICS

Knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, also known as gonarthrosis, is a widespread degenerative disease. It is caused by the progressive wear and tear of the joint cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber between the femur and tibia. This cartilage wears away over the course of a lifetime or as a result of overloading, injury or misalignment. As a result, the protective cartilage becomes thinner, rougher and can eventually disappear completely, causing bone to rub against bone. Osteoarthritis of the knee often develops over several years and often goes unnoticed at first. In many cases, the cartilage disease is only noticed by the so-called initial pain. When getting up in the morning or after sitting for a long time, the knees need time to become flexible. In addition, the knee often swells with osteoarthritis. Over time, mobility and walking distance become increasingly restricted. Osteoarthritis progresses in stages, from mild cartilage damage with occasional discomfort to severe osteoarthritis with permanent pain and considerable impairment in everyday life.

Knee osteoarthritis can be triggered by excessive strain caused by increased body weight or incorrect and excessive sporting activities. Untreated ligament, meniscus and cartilage injuries, inflammation and infections or circulatory disorders are also common triggers of knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the knee can be treated conservatively, but cannot be cured. An accurate diagnosis is the first step to successful treatment. We use advanced imaging techniques and carry out a thorough clinical examination to determine the exact cause of your knee pain and fully assess the condition of your joint and the stage of osteoarthritis.

Conservative therapies help to reduce pain and alleviate the irritation. They make it possible to move better again and relieve swelling.

Depending on your lifestyle, the following tips may be helpful:

• Reduction in body weight
• Balanced diet and avoidance of nicotine and alcohol
• Physiotherapy or manual therapies for muscle building and mobilization
• Physical therapies in the form of cold and heat therapies, electrotherapy, aqua aerobics
• Insoles to correct misalignments and relieve pressure on the joints
• Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication
• Injections of hyaluronic acid, cortisone, local anesthetics or autologous plasma

KNEE OPERATIONS AND PROSTHESES – INTERVENTIONS FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY

Knee arthroscopy, often also referred to as knee arthroscopy, is a so-called “keyhole procedure”. Read more about arthroscopy in general and other possible knee surgery methods here.

Arthroplasty refers to the use of artificial joints as a replacement for excessive, irreparable cartilage damage. Read here which methods we can offer you at the ETHIANUM.

At the ETHIANUM Heidelberg, we specialize in using state-of-the-art methods to help you regain your mobility and relieve pain – regardless of the stage of your osteoarthritis. Our aim is to find the best individual treatment for you – from conservative measures to highly innovative joint replacements.