Knee pain can be divided into three major categories: Acute injury: such as a broken bone, torn ligament, or meniscal tear. Medical conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, infections. Chronic use/overuse conditions: osteoarthritis, chondromalacia, IT band syndrome, patellar syndromes, tendinitis, and bursitis.
Often knee pain can be evaluated and treated by your primary care doctor. If the knee pain requires surgery or the cause of the pain needs further evaluation, an orthopedic surgeon will usually be consulted. With arthritis, gout, or inflammatory joint problems a rheumatologist may be consulted.
Orthopedics is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, correction, prevention, and treatment of patients with skeletal deformities – disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and skin. These elements make up the musculoskeletal system.
Make an appointment with your doctor if your knee pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact or if it’s accompanied by: Significant swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.
An orthopaedic doctor specializes in issues, diseases, and injuries pertaining to the musculoskeletal system. These doctors play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions.
When should I see an orthopedist?
Patients might need an orthopedic physician if they have:
Joint or musculoskeletal pain that began after an injury.
Gradually progressive hip or knee pain that is worse with weight bearing.
Joint pain that is severe and interfering with function.
Moderate or advanced arthritis of the knee or hip.
Orthopedic surgeons are specially trained in the surgical treatment of bone and joint problems that affect movement, like arthritis. Some surgeons specialize in disease of the hip, knee, or spine while others treat disease in several joints of the body, including hands and feet.
Common Orthopedic Conditions. Chronic orthopedic conditions, such as arthritis and bursitis, affect the musculoskeletal system – most commonly the bones or joints. … These conditions are different from orthopedic injuries, like a shoulder dislocation or broken bone, which are often due to sudden trauma.
What are the Most Common Types of Orthopedic Surgery?
Joint Replacement Procedures. These procedures replace an injured joint with a prosthetic and are among the most common orthopedic operations. …
• Revision Joint Surgery. …
• Debridement. …
• Spinal Fusion. …
• Bone Fusion. …
• Soft tissue repair. …
• Internal Fixation of Bones. …
• Osteotomy.
