The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. Over the course of their lives, about 10% of the population experience knee pain.
Common causes include injuries or signs of wear and tear. Misalignments of the leg axes, such as pronounced bowlegs or knock-knees, or improper tracking of the kneecap, lead to uneven load distribution on the knee joint. While a dislocated kneecap immediately causes severe knee pain, degenerative conditions such as knee osteoarthritis result in persistent pain that puts stress on the joint. To determine the causes and treatment options on an individual basis, it is advisable to consult a knee specialist for a thorough diagnosis.
Specialized orthopedic physicians or trauma surgeons with expertise in sports medicine knee surgery are the ideal contacts. There is no single “best” doctor or hospital for the knee. Instead, it is important to differentiate between the various injuries and conditions of the joint, such as acute inflammations.
A surgeon skilled in ACL reconstruction is not necessarily the best choice for artificial knee replacement surgery.
Arthroscopic Procedures
Through minimally invasive knee arthroscopy, specialists establish the final diagnosis and can already carry out important treatments on, among other things, ligaments or cartilage tissue.
Cartilage Surgery
- Knee cartilage procedures: Using different techniques, damaged cartilage tissue is replaced with new tissue, for example with cartilage chips. The most commonly used technique due to its favorable long-term results is cartilage cell transplantation, an important method in orthopedic surgery.
- Cartilage cell transplantation: In this surgical procedure, usually performed arthroscopically, the physician repairs cartilage damage using the patient’s own cells.
- Meniscus surgery: Damage to the meniscus (meniscus tear), the cartilage discs in the knee joint, may result from trauma or wear and tear. Tears can vary in severity. In many cases, surgery is performed on an outpatient basis during arthroscopy. In larger defects, a transplant may be required.
Ligament & Patella Reconstruction
- Knee ligament reconstructions: Using the patient’s own tendon tissue, harvested from a site selected by the surgeon, doctors reconstruct torn ligaments. To ensure long-term success of the knee treatment, experts recommend strengthening the leg muscles for several months through appropriate physiotherapy.
- ACL reconstruction: Depending on severity, an ACL rupture can be surgically treated in different ways, typically using a graft. If performed minimally invasively via so-called keyhole surgery, rehabilitation is usually shortened. Open surgery on the knee generally requires a longer recovery period, supported by therapy under the guidance of an experienced orthopedic surgeon.
- Patella surgery: If the kneecap causes recurrent problems due to misalignment, physicians may recommend an orthopedic procedure. A common method is the retinaculum release, in which the surgeon cuts the outer supporting ligament to lengthen it and reduce pressure on the lateral parts of the patellofemoral joint.
Knee Realignment & Artificial Joint Replacement
- Knee osteotomy: Severe bowlegs or knock-knees can lead to long-term joint problems and early wear. Misalignments of the knee joint can already be corrected surgically in adolescence to prevent future symptoms. But even in adulthood, surgical realignment may relieve discomfort and improve function.
- Knee prostheses: In cases of advanced osteoarthritis, early treatment options can improve outcomes. Depending on the degree of damage, physicians may recommend a partial knee replacement (unicompartmental prosthesis) or a total knee replacement (TKA) — an artificial knee joint.
Knee surgery is necessary when all conservative treatment options have been exhausted without achieving significant relief of knee pain. In cases of injury, a procedure may help prevent later knee osteoarthritis.
The first step should always be to determine the exact cause of the knee symptoms. This can be done through a physical examination by the physician combined with imaging methods such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI.
In some cases, knee arthroscopy remains the only option. This itself is a surgical procedure.
Knee lavage or cartilage smoothing are viewed critically today, as their benefit for patients is questioned.
Duration
Wondering how long your knee surgery will take? There is no single answer, as injuries and each patient’s overall health condition can differ significantly.
Nowadays, arthroscopic surgeries often last only 30 to 60 minutes. Knee osteotomies can typically be completed in about an hour.
Knee replacements usually take specialists about 75 minutes to perform.
Costs
Depending on medical necessity, in most cases health insurance providers (public and private) cover the costs of knee surgery in this country.
Aftercare
Comprehensive aftercare is crucial for your long-term treatment success. For most knee surgeries, follow-up is divided into two phases to address both immediate and long-term issues.
- Healing after joint replacement surgery is an essential part of physiotherapy. In ACL reconstruction, for example, the first phase focuses on wound healing and only passive mobility. Effusions, swelling, and pain should be reduced, and the ACL protected to avoid rupture.
- Restoring function and stabilization: In the second phase, the focus is on muscle strengthening. This is essential for stabilizing the knee joint, preventing joint wear, and gradually increasing load capacity — always in consultation with the treating physician.
The Leading Medicine Guide presents only carefully selected, highly qualified experts for knee surgery and joint replacement. All knee specialists have extensive expertise and many years of experience in knee surgery.
