Front Knee Pain (Anterior)

Tag Archives: Knee Injury Treatment

Front Knee Pain

Front or anterior knee pain refers to the pain occurring at the front of the knee, including the kneecap or patella. Patients may not be sure what is causing them front knee pain, but two of the common causes of this pain are patellofemoral pain and patella tendinitis or Jumper’s knee.

It can sometimes become difficult to distinguish between the two types of pain, and on occasion, these two conditions may occur at the same time. Fabulous, focused, and board certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide treatments for anterior knee pain to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding locations in this area of the country.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is also known by other names such as as runners knee, chondromalacia patellae, anterior knee pain and patellofemoral joint syndrome. This generic term describes patella pain at the front of the knee.

Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Lesion

Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Lesion or syndrome is one of a group of injuries known as osteochondroses. This condition typically causes knee pain in children. Osgood’s Schlatter Disease is another similar injury. It is a chronic stress injury occurring at the bottom of the kneecap.

Jumpers Knee

Jumpers knee or patellar tendonitis occurs from overuse of the knee. It causes pain in the front of the knee, localized at a point towards the lower part of the kneecap. Too much running, jumping, or repetitive strain can cause inflammation or degeneration of the patella tendon.

Osgood Schlatters Disease

Osgood Schlatter disease or Osgood Schlatter lesion is a knee pain commonly occurring in children in the age group of 10 to 15 years. The condition was named after two physicians in 1903, Dr. Robert Osgood and Dr. Carl Schlatter.

Chondromalacia Patella

Chondromalacia patella (CMP) refers to damage occurring to the articular cartilage, which is the smooth hard cartilage under the kneecap.

Housemaids Knee

Housemaids Knee, clinically known as prepatellar bursitis or knee bursitis, refers to a swelling of the bursa. A small sack of fluid may occur at the front of the knee.

Patellofemoral Instability

In case of patellofemoral instability, the patient typically experiences the sensation of their kneecap giving away or feeling loose on movement of the knee.

Quadriceps Tendinopathy

Pain and inflammation of the quadriceps tendon may occur due to overuse of the knee. The tendon inserts into the top of the kneecap, and over a period of time it can result in degeneration of the tendon.

Infrapatella Bursitis

A bursa refers to a small sac of fluid, which performs the function of lubricating the movement between tendons and bone. Several bursas are present around the knee, which can sometimes become painful and inflamed.

Fat Pad Impingement

The infrapatella fat pad is also known as Hoffa’s pad. It is a soft tissue that lies beneath the kneecap which can get impinged causing knee pain.

When a patient experiences persistent or severe knee pain, they should consult with an orthopedic surgeon and receive appropriate treatment. Judicious, accomplished, and board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and other suburbs and communities in this area of Nevada for knee and shoulder related injuries.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9393.

Knee Injuries

A sudden twisting action or trauma may sometimes lead to an acute knee injury. Treatment is essential to prevent the acute knee injury from progressing to chronic or more complex knee injuries. Board certified orthopedic surgeons at Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide treatments for acute knee injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding communities in The Sagebrush State.

ACL Sprain

Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury or ACL may commonly occur in contact sports. ACL tears often occur along with damage to other structures within the knee, such as the cartilage or collateral ligaments.

Hamstring Tendon Rupture

If the hamstring tendons insert into the back of the knee, it can cause a full or partial rupture of the tendons.

Medial Ligament Sprain

A medial ligament sprain or MCL injury involves torn ligament inside the knee, often due to direct impact or a twist. These injuries can occur in contact sports as well as in everyday life through falls and twists of the knee joint.

Lateral Knee Ligament Sprain

This involves a knee ligament tear on the outside of the knee. The most likely cause is a direct blow to the inside of the knee.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

The posterior cruciate ligament is vital to provide stability to the knee and prevent it from bending back the wrong way.

Knee Contusion

This refers to a bruised knee, which may occur due to a fall directly onto the knee or something hard hitting the knee. Treatment will vary depending on the severity of the bruise.

Medial Meniscus Tear

A torn meniscus is a tear to the semi circular cartilage in the knee joint. This injury commonly occurs through direct impact in contact sports or twisting. Severe tears may require surgery.

Unhappy Triad

The unhappy triad of the knee refers to a severe injury involving damage to three of the four major knee ligaments.

Coronary Ligament Sprain

The symptoms of this injury are similar to that of cartilage meniscus injury. The symptoms often occur in conjunction with lateral ligament injuries.

Biceps Femoris Tendon Avulsion

The Biceps Femoris is one of the three hamstring muscles. A fracture involves the tendon pulling away from the bone.

Acute Patella Injury

An injury to the kneecap or patella from a fall onto the knee or a direct blow may cause this condition. Sometimes a fracture of the patella may also occur.

Osteochondral Knee Fracture

An Osteochondral knee fracture involves a tear of the cartilage which covers the end of a bone within a joint. This injury typically occurs in association with other injuries such as ACL tears.

Knee Sprain

If an injury or damage occurs to one of the four ligaments that support the knee, it is called a knee sprain.

Articular Cartilage Injury

Damage to the cartilage that lines the bone ends is known as an articular cartilage injury.

Dislocated Knee

When the femur or thigh bone and the tibia or shin bone are moved apart, it called a dislocated knee.

Patella Dislocation

The patella can dislocate outside of its normal position, usually round the outside of the knee.

Sagacious, stellar, and board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and nearby areas for treatment of knee injuries.

Knee Injury Treatment

Treatment for knee injury will determined according to the specific part of the knee that has suffered damage as well as the extent of damage. It is important to choose a trained and experienced orthopedic surgeon for treating severe knee injuries in order to have predictable outcomes.

Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide safe, proven and advanced treatments for knee injuries. Patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding locations have an opportunity to receive these treatments in a state of the art environment at their practice.

Common Treatments

The most common types of injuries involve simple sprains or strains, which can be treated with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) therapy. Pain and inflammation in the area can be improved with over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs for these minor injuries. However, to minimize the risk of further damage, the patient may have to receive splinting or immobilizing of the injured knee, particularly if the knee has suffered torn ligaments.

Cortisone steroid injections may be required to treat chronic knee injuries. If the injury is more severe, involving swelling, fracture, reduced range of motion, torn ligaments or instability of the knee joint, the patient should receive treatment from a qualified orthopedic surgeon. The patient may have to use a wheelchair or crutches during the treatment phase. Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler are board certified orthopedic surgeons receiving patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for knee treatments.

Knee Surgery

If the knee has suffered severe ligament tears or extensive damage to the menisci, surgery may be required. Fractures or dislocations of the knee may also indicate surgery. If a severe injury occurs due to a sudden, forceful impact or damage to multiple parts of the knee, the patient may require emergency surgery.

Knee surgery is typically performed using an arthroscope. The surgeon will make tiny punctures in the knee to insert an arthroscope attached to a camera. This will allow the surgeon to view the underlying structures of the knee and perform precise repairs without having to open the knee with large incisions. Physical therapy regimen will follow after the surgery to strengthen and stretch the knee muscles.

Prognosis

Major knee injuries can be debilitating, and vascular damage may occur due to a dislocated knee joint, resulting in severe disability. But in case of minor knee injuries, the prognosis is generally good, and the strains or sprains will gradually heal.

Surgery may be necessary if the ligament or cartilage injuries have caused dysfunction or instability of the knee. Following surgery, most patients are able to recover the knee motion completely. However, a few types of knee injuries may lead to chronic, irreversible damage and long term dysfunction.

Physical Exercises

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers an exercise guide with detailed directions and images. But the patient should take care to perform these exercises only after consulting the surgeon. Deep squats, lunges, hurdler’s stretches, and full arc knee extensions should be avoided because they may result in additional stress to the knee joint.

Sports injuries may affect not just professional athletes, but also ‘weekend warriors’ who engage in sports and other physical activities as a pastime. Some people say three on three basketball is the most fun thing they do all week and it is extremely beneficial for the body – unless you damage, extend, twist, or break something! But this is why there are outstanding doctors to get people back on their feet and ready for the next intense activity.

There is an old saying that still holds true: if you do not use it, you will lose it.

Minor sports injuries may be treated with over the counter sports medications, but more serious injuries may need the attention of an orthopedic surgeon.Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute is a pre-eminent practice, headed by board certified surgeons Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler. The practice provides cutting edge sports medicine treatments to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding communities.

Common Sports Injuries

Some of the most common sports injuries include ankle sprain, hamstring pull, groin pull, ACL tear in the knee, shin splints, tennis elbow, and injury from repetitive movement of the kneecap against thigh bone. Sprains and strains are the most common sports injuries.

Sprains include injuries to ligaments, which are the tough bands connecting bones in a joint. If the ligament is suddenly stretched beyond limit, it can get torn or deformed. Strains include injuries to the tendons or muscle fibers, which anchor muscles to bones. Overuse or overstretching of the muscle causes strains or pulls.

Treatments

Severe sports injuries should only be treated by qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon for best results. Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute receives patients from Las Vegas, Nevada for sports injury treatment and other procedures. Common sports injuries can take several weeks or months to heal, even with professional treatment. Surgery may be required if the sprain or strain is severe, involving the tearing away of an entire ligament, muscle, or tendon.

Ankle Sprain

Athletes will usually experience a sprained ankle at some point, which involves stretching or tearing of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The orthopedic surgeon or a physical therapist can guide the patient regarding the appropriate exercises for this condition. Ankle sprains are common in basketball, track, and in a number of other activities.

Groin Pull

Strain to the groin or the inner thigh muscles may caused due to pushing off in a side-to-side motion. Groin pulls with significant swelling should be treated by a physician as early as possible. A groin pull can happen in basketball, soccer, football, tennis, or just playing around with your kids.

Hamstring Pull

Injuries of the hamstring are slow to heal because the injured tissue receives constant stress from walking. It can take about six to 12 months for your heel to completely heal. This injury is common in colder weather where it is harder to get warm and if someone fails to stretch out that well before they push their body and begin to run or move quickly.

Shin Splints

Pain down the front of the lower legs is referred to as shin splints. It can be normally treated with medicine, but if there is a small fracture in the shin bone, an orthopedic surgeon should be consulted. You can experience shin splints with hard running on hard surfaces.

ACL Tear

If there is a suspected ACL injury, it is important to consult with an orthopedic surgeon early. A completely torn ACL will generally require surgery for a patient who is keen to remain physically active. ACL tears are among the most severe forms of common sports injuries.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow occurs from the repetitive use of the elbow and is most common in the age group of 30 to 60. It typically involves the outside of the elbow. Adequate rest and staying away from sports activities such as tennis or golf is important until the condition has fully recovered. You do not have to be a tennis player to acquire tennis elbow much too popular conception.

Knee Injury

Knee injury treatment will depend on which part of the knee has suffered damage and what is the extent of the damage. Serious knee injuries should be treated only by a qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon to ensure safe and effective results.

Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute, led by board certified surgeons Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler, is a leading practice providing knee injury treatments. The practice receives patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding communities.

Common Treatments

Simple sprains or strains involving the knee may be treated with RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications may be used to address the pain and inflammation arising due to these minor injuries. Splinting or immobilizing the injured knee can reduce the chances of further damage, and can help stabilize the knee if it has torn ligaments.

Chronic knee injuries may require cortisone injections, which contain steroids. If the injury is more extensive and involves instability of the knee joint, torn ligaments, swelling, fracture, or decreased range of motion, it will require treatment from an orthopedic surgeon. Crutches and wheelchair use may be advised during the period of treatment. Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provides advanced solutions for knee injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas.

Knee Surgery

In case of extensive damage to the menisci or ligament tears, surgery may be indicated. Dislocations or fractures of the knee may also require surgery. Emergency surgery may be needed in case of acute injuries arising from forceful impact or damage to multiple parts of the knee.

In most cases, the knee surgery will be performed arthroscopically. Small punctures will be made in the knee to insert an arthroscope attached to a camera. With this technology, the surgeon can perform the knee repairs without having to make a large incision to open the knee. Physical therapy may be advised after the surgery to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee.

Prognosis

Severe knee injuries can be debilitating, and dislocations of the knee joint may cause vascular injuries resulting in severe disability. In case of minor knee injuries such as strains or sprains, the healing can occur gradually, and the prognosis is usually enlightening.

Cartilage or ligament injuries that cause instability or dysfunction of the knee may need surgery. Patients can usually recover the knee motion fully. Some knee injuries can result in irreversible, chronic damage, and long-term dysfunction.

Physical Exercises

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) provides an exercise guide, which includes images and directions. However, the patient should perform these exercises in consultation with the surgeon. Lunges, deep squats, full arc knee extensions, and hurdler’s stretches should be avoided since they can cause additional stress to the knee joint.

Recovery

Recovery in case of sprains or strains may take about one to two weeks. Complete recovery following a knee arthroscopic surgery can take one to three months. The surgeon’s instructions for rest, immobilization, and appropriate physical therapy should be followed for safer and faster recovery.

Contact Us

702.933.9393

9499 West Charleston, Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89117