Knee Injections
I had a mentor in residency who used to say we can offer a patient three things when they come to the office:
1. 🔪 (Surgery)
2. 💉 (Injection)
3. 👋 (Physical Therapy)
Hip Anatomy – Acetabulum
The acetabulum (from the Latin for “little vinegar cup”) is the hip socket. Yesterday we looked at the femoral head, which is the ball that fits within this socket.
Hip Anatomy – Femoral Head
The hip joint is made up of two parts, the ball and the socket. The ball is known as the “Femoral Head”. This is the top of the femur (thigh bone).
Arthritis Affects 1 in 4 Adults
What is the scope of the problem of arthritis? Roughly 1 in 4 adults. With many millions affected, and a large proportion of those still of working age, arthritis is one of the biggest reasons for lost work time and reduced quality of life.
Knee Anatomy – Fibula
We don’t talk about the fibula much in knee replacement, because it does not usually play much of a role in surgery. It is not resurfaced or replaced, and doesn’t actually touch the knee joint itself.
Knee Anatomy – Femur
The femur (thigh bone) is the upper bone of the knee joint. With the knee extended straight, the tibia (shin bone) fits at the very end of the femur (distal). With the knee flexed the tibia fits at the back side of the femur (posterior).
Knee Anatomy – Tibia
In a knee replacement the top of the tibia is resurfaced with a tibial “tray”. The arthritic bone is removed and a metal tray is cemented or pressfit into place (depending on the implant). These trays are typically made of titanium.
Hip and Knee Fellowship Training
Fellowship training as a hip and knee specialist is a year after finishing residency, dedicated entirely to learning how to perform hip and knee replacements. From the straightforward classic techniques, to the modern robotic, custom, or complex revision, we saw it all.
