KNEE CARE AT THE ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE
AT POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
Say “Hello” to your knee, that indispensable joint where three bones meet in the middle of your leg. These are the femur or thighbone, tibia or shinbone, and patella or kneecap. Adjoining muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons also help your knee function so you can do normal activities such as walking, or more strenuous ones such as running, cycling, swimming, or riding horses.
The knee has the distinction of being the largest joint in your body—a hinge joint—that can bend, stretch, and turn. Knees may “show their age,” or may bother you because of an injury or ongoing stress to the joint. When it can’t do those “normal” things, or when doing them causes you pain or becomes debilitating, it may be time to seek professional help from a skilled orthopedic surgeon.
Assessing Your Knee
From winning athletes to active seniors in training, we welcome the opportunity to develop a personalized treatment plan for your knee problem.
In addition to a physical examination and taking your medical history, your orthopedic surgeon may decide to do the following diagnostic imaging tests to learn more about what’s causing your problem.
- X-ray
- Computerized tomography or CT scan
- Ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI
- Radionuclide bone scan
- Arthrocentesis to remove a fluid sample for analysis
Symptoms and Conditions We Treat
Here at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, we diagnose and treat the full gamut of conditions and injuries that cause knee pain, including:
- Arthritis
- Avascular necrosis
- Bone and soft tissue sarcomas
- Bursitis
- Cartilage tear
- Dislocation
- Fractures
- Infection
- Knee deformities
- Kneecap instability
- Knee loose bodies
- Knee malalignment syndrome
- Ligament injury such as ACL tears
- Meniscus injury
- Sports-related knee injury, such as patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Trauma-related knee injury
Nonsurgical Treatments for Knee Conditions
First, know that surgery is not always the first method of treatment for knee problems. Your orthopedic surgeon may first recommend:
- Ice or cryotherapy
- Rest or modification of activities
- Splinting or immobilization: These restrict movement that allows you to heal faster.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: Those most often used include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen can ease pain but not inflammation.
- Corticosteroids: These may be injected into the knee joint to provide temporary pain relief and reduce swelling, but these are not always successful. Injections are usually limited to four times annually.
- Hyaluronic acid: This natural lubricant may also be injected to boost mobility and relieve pain. Again, relief is temporary but could be up to six months for what’s also called “rooster shots.”
- Platelet-rich plasma: This injection is made from your blood cells called platelets, that contain growth factors to help injured tissue heal faster. The blood is taken from your arm.
- Physical therapy: Committing to a program and following directions may increase knee range of motion and flexibility and diminish pain.
- Weight loss: If you are obese, losing weight can also relieve stress on your joints, including your knee.
What’s Making Your Knee Uncomfortable?
If you’re experiencing any of the following, you may need to see an orthopedic surgeon:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness—maybe you can’t completely straighten your knee
- Weakness
- Odd noises: crunch, pop
- Something just looks “off”
Experts in Knee Surgery
- Arthroscopy
- Cartilage restoration
- Computer navigation knee replacement
- CT scan-guided surgery
- Partial knee replacement
- Revision knee replacement
- Total knee replacement
- With knee replacements, the smart knee implant, Persona IQ®, computer chip to monitor functional recovery progress, range of motion, gait, and more
- Patient specific instrumentation
Minimally Invasive Surgery
If your surgeon performs a minimally invasive procedure, that means less of the tissue in the knee will be cut, using smaller incisions that disturb less of that tissue. Your surgeon will determine if you are a suitable candidate for this type of procedure, which provides you these advantages:
- Shorter recovery time
- Less postoperative pain
- Less trauma to the tissues around your joint
- Less scarring and less blood loss
- Quicker rehabilitation
After Your Surgery
The orthopedic and joint replacement teams at the Orthopedic Institute at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center are dedicated to helping you get back on your feet faster and to ensure your post-operative experience goes smoothly.
You can be sure our expert orthopedic surgeons will give you the personalized care you need. We’ll develop the appropriate treatment plan for your knee that works to reduce your pain and help you get back to being “you.” It’s about time, yes?
