Painful bump on knee warrants x-ray, could be recurring cancer

July 11th — admin

I had bone cancer three years ago. My lower leg was amputated below the knee. I notice the bump alongside the same knee is getting larger and hurts when I push on it. Could this be the cancer coming back?

Don’t jump to any hasty conclusions. Take the safe approach and call your doctor immediately. A simple X-ray may answer your question quickly and allay your fears. In below the knee amputations, problems can occur at the tibiofibular joint. This is where the two bones in the lower leg (tibia and fibula) meet just below the knee joint. If you normally have loose ligaments, you may be at risk for dislocation of this joint. The amputation is also a risk factor for problems in this area.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Can McConnell taping help my knee pain?

March 29th — admin

What is McConnell taping? I heard it might help my knee pain. Where do I get this tape?

Jenny McConnell is a physical therapist from Australia. She came up with a treatment plan using taping and exercise for a condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). It’s been used for the last 20 years with good results.

The taping is designed to pull the patella (kneecap) over the middle of the knee. This helps the patella track or glide up and down properly.

McConnell taping is done by trained physical therapists and athletic trainers. They use a special kind of tape that holds in place while the leg moves. Once the therapist or trainer decides the right taping method to use for your problem, you can learn how to apply it to yourself.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Tibial plateau fracture may lead to total knee replacement

January 26th — admin

What is a tibial plateau fracture and what’s the final outcome with proper treatment?

The tibia is the lower leg bone between the ankle and the knee. The tibial plateau is at the top of the tibia. It’s the surface where the upper leg bone rests on the tibia. In other words, the tibial plateau is the bottom surface of the knee joint.

A fracture in this area can be treated with or without surgery. This depends on how severe it is and whether or not there is another injury with it. A torn ligament or a second fracture may also require surgery.

Over the years, studies have shown that tibial plateau fractures result in arthritis. A total knee replacement (TKR) may be needed. The final outcome isn’t as good for patients receiving a TKR without a previous fracture. The operation can be very complex.

Results are good when the doctor is aware of these problems and plans carefully.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Football injury could result in bruised bone.

September 3rd — admin
One of the ligaments inside my knee was injured in a recent football game. I’m wondering about the knee bones. My biology teacher said ligaments are attached to bones. Do the bones get hurt, too?

 
Good job thinking it through! In fact, bones are often bruised when the ligaments that attach to them get torn. These “bruises” can’t be seen on an X-ray. They can be seen with MRI scans. A bone bruise is like a small fracture of the bone. Most bruises will go away completely. But it’s still unclear what the bone injury will mean in the long term.

Scientists are concerned that the initial bone injury eventually causes the bone to become less resilient–less “bouncy.” With the shock absorbers down, the cartilage that covers the knee joint ends up taking more force. This can take a toll on the joint surfaces, and may lead to arthritic changes in the knee joint.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com 

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Medial, lateral, anterior, posterior – Where does your knee really hurt?

August 31st — admin

This booklet on knee anatomy should help you answer that question.

 The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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Does repair of ACL guarantee problem-free future?

July 14th — admin
I recently had my right ACL repaired. My orthopedist said everything looked great. If my rehab continues to go well, does this mean I won’t have problems in the future?

 
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the long term outcome for you. Sometimes, people who tear a knee ligament also bruise the knee bone. This damage may or may not go away completely. Even though the ACL may have been repaired successfully, the joint may still become arthritic if the bone damage doesn’t completely resolve. This is because the initial bone bruise can cause the bone underneath the cartilage to harden. The joint loses its ability to absorb shock, so the cartilage takes the brunt of the forces on the joint. Scientists are working to figure out how to predict and prevent these kinds of problems.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com

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