Approximately 85 percent of knee surgery procedures are successful for 10 to 15 years. This complex joint plays an essential role in supporting your body weight, making it susceptible to injuries and damage. Depending on the nature and extent of a knee injury, there are different surgical options. Below are some of the most popular knee surgery procedures.
Meniscus involvement
Three main knee surgery procedures involve the meniscus, a pad of cartilage in the knee that serves as a shock absorber. A torn meniscus can cause great knee pain. Your doctor may decide to carry out meniscectomy, meniscus repair or meniscus transplant, processes that involve removing a portion of the meniscus, complete repair and replacing the torn meniscus with one from a donor respectively.
Ligaments and tendon involvement
ACL reconstruction involves the replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament, commonly known as ACL. This is one of the most common injuries among athletes. Tendon repair is another popular knee surgery procedure that will mostly involve the quadriceps and patellar tendons.
Knee replacements
A partial or total knee replacement will be necessary depending on the severity of arthritis of the knee. Your doctor will decide whether to use implant pieces to replace a compartment or a plastic knee replacement implant to restore the knee.
Other popular knee surgeries
- Plica removal – plica is a remnant of tissue from fetal development that is lost with time. When it remains, it may cause knee pain, making it important to undergo knee surgery to remove the excess plica.
- Lateral release – If the tissue that holds the kneecap in place is too tight, it can pull the kneecap laterally and cause pain. Lateral release helps in improving the condition to reduce pain.
- Microfracture – this is a surgical procedure that is done to correct small areas of cartilage damage in the knee joint.
