Knee problems account for 26 percent of their visits-4.1 million of them every year. The back and hip take back seats, at 17.6 and 14.8 percent, respectively. Most knee problems involve either injury to the ligaments that support the bones of the knee or breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the contacts between the bones. Downhill skiers, for example, are prone to injure the anterior cruciate ligament, which keeps the upper and lower leg aligned. Cartilage deterioration is more often the result of osteoarthritis, a condition that affects about 16 million Americans.
Orthopaedic doctors have many more treatment options to offer than they did in the past.
Knee pain can sometimes be relieved by changes in activity, medications, cortisone injections, or careful work with a physical therapist. More severe problems may require surgical repair, but even that isn't what it used to be. Most of the time, the orthopaedic surgeon can use a technique called arthroscopy, wherein a flexible tool is inserted through a quarter-inch incision. With the arthroscope, the surgeon can inspect the inside of the knee and perform a variety of repairs. The end of the line for knee problems is total knee replacement.