Knee Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Your knee joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the knee joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have knee problems. Knee problems can cause pain and difficulty walking.

Knee problems are very common, and they occur in people of all ages. Knee problems can interfere with many things, from participation in sports to simply getting up from a chair and walking. This can have a big impact on your life.

The most common disease affecting the knee is osteoarthritis. The cartilage in the knee gradually wears away, causing pain and swelling.

Injuries to ligaments and tendons also cause knee problems. A common injury is to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). You usually injure your ACL by a sudden twisting motion. ACL and other knee injuries are common sports injuries.

Treatment of knee problems depends on the cause. In some cases your doctor may recommend knee replacement.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Specifics

• ACL Injury American Academy of Family Physicians
• Baker Cyst Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Osteochondritis Dissecans American Academy of Family Physicians
• Patellar Tendinitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome American Academy of Family Physicians
• Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis American Academy of Family Physicians
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Swollen Knee (Water on the Knee) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Treatments and Therapies

• ACL Injury: Diagnosis and Treatment Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Knee Arthroscopy American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Knee Replacement: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• ACL reconstruction Medical Encyclopedia
• Anterior crucate ligament (ACL) injury Medical Encyclopedia
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Anterior knee pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Baker cyst Medical Encyclopedia
• Broken kneecap – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Collateral ligament (CL) injury — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Getting your home ready – knee or hip surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee arthroscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Meniscus tears — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Osgood-Schlatter disease Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• ACL reconstruction – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Iliotibial band syndrome — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee arthroscopy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee microfracture surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Kneecap dislocation – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Meniscal allograft transplantation Medical Encyclopedia
• Osteotomy of the knee Medical Encyclopedia
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Tibial osteotomy – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Teenagers

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries Nemours Foundation
• Jumper’s Knee Nemours Foundation
• Knee Injuries Nemours Foundation
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries Nemours Foundation
• Meniscus Tears Nemours Foundation
• Osgood-Schlatter Disease Nemours Foundation
• Osgood-Schlatter Disease American Academy of Family Physicians
• Runner’s Knee Nemours Foundation

Images

• Anterior cruciate ligament repair – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Knee arthroscopy – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Articular Cartilage Disorders National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Knee Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Menisci, Tibial National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Patella Disorders National Institutes of Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Direct Arthrography Radiological Society of North America
• Knee MRI Radiological Society of North America
• X-Ray Exam: Knee Nemours Foundation

Find an Expert

• Find a Doctor in American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Living With

• Knee Bracing: What Works? American Academy of Family Physicians
• Knee Rehabilitation Exercises American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Start Here

• Knee Problems American Academy of Family Physicians

Children

• Osgood-Schlatter Disease (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Osteochondritis Dissecans (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Knee injuries and disorders