Knee Injuries

Knee Injuries services offered in Los Angeles, CA

Medical providers often see knee injuries; they account for 41% of all sports injuries. Most of these injuries improve with rest and conservative care. But if knee pain or stiffness continues for more than a few days, seek treatment. At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, orthopaedic and sports medicine specialist George Hatch, MD, provides complete care for knee injuries, including patellar instability and dislocations. Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule knee injury treatment, or book your visit online.

What are knee injuries?

Knee injuries is an umbrella term for any damage affecting your knee joint and/or the surrounding tissues.

The knees are some of the most flexible joints in the human body and contain various components, including cartilage, bone, muscles, and ligaments. Damage to any of these tissues is considered an injury and results in pain and limited mobility.

Which are the common knee injuries you treat?

At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Hatch treats various knee injuries, including:

Patellar instability

Patellar instability affects the position and movement of your kneecap.

In a healthy knee, the kneecap moves up and down inside a V-shaped hollow called the trochlear groove. Knee instability causes the kneecap to not adhere to the groove, causing pain and mobility problems. Patellar instability occurs for various reasons, but it’s commonly the result of a dislocated knee cap.

Knee dislocations

Knee dislocation causes one (or several) of the bones in your knee to change position, affecting the joint’s alignment. Some dislocations are partial, while others are complete.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a thick band of tissue in the middle of your kneecap that provides rotational stability for your knee. Though tough, the ligament can tear or rupture, resulting in knee pain, joint stiffness, and mobility problems.

How are knee injuries diagnosed?

Dr. Hatch reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and examines your knee. He checks the affected joint for redness, bruising, and swelling, gently presses on your knee to identify sensitive spots, and assesses your joint’s range of motion.

Minor knee injuries can be diagnosed visually, but if Dr. Hatch suspects you have a meniscus tear or an ACL injury, he orders diagnostic imaging to examine your kneecap and the surrounding tissues more closely.

How are knee injuries treated?

Dr. Hatch takes a conservative, patient-centered approach to treating knee injuries. He could suggest:

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
Using crutches or a wheelchair to take pressure off the knee
Wearing a cast or knee brace
Physical therapy
OrthoBiologic Treatment (like platelet-rich plasma therapy)

If you break a bone or suffer a more severe injury, surgery could be needed. Dr. Hatch performs both minimally invasive and traditional open knee surgery. After making the necessary repairs, he closes the incisions and provides recovery instructions.

Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule knee injury treatment, or book your appointment online.