Medical dictionary

What is knee cartilage replacement? Knee cartilage replacement involves the replacement of parts of the cartilage that have been damaged as a result of specific injuries or arthritis. Normally, a local anaesthetic is used in cartilage transplant surgery, which is applied to the injured leg. The anaesthetist will discuss with you the best way to proceed, to make sure you experience as littl

What is a knee fracture? A knee fracture is a break or rupture in a bone in the knee joint. These bones are usually injured by falls, traffic accidents, contact sports and physical exercise. Prognosis: Depending on the severity of the fracture, some knee fractures can heal without the need for surgery, and conservative measures will suffice. However, bigger fractures will need surgery

What is osteoarthritis of the knee? Osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease which mainly consists of a tearing of the articular cartilage, and it can be progressive. The disease is not exclusive to old age, however, the frequency of affliction increases with age. It is also more common in women than in men, and in people who are genetically predisposed to it. Although many of these factors a

What are the most common causes of knee pain?Pain felt in the knee is relatively common and is most often associated with ageing, injury or repeated stress on the joint. Although some sports, which involve rapid pivoting movements or jumping, can pose an elevated risk to the knee joint, it is also possible to sustain damage to the knee in daily activities such as walking, bending or standing.

What is knee replacement surgery? Knee replacement surgery is a procedure that involves removing and replacing a damaged or worn knee joint with an artificial implant. An implant is placed in the damaged structure and replaces its function, allowing you to move the joint again, eliminating any pain you might have had before. During the operation, the damaged bone and cartilage are removed. F

What is knee surgery?Knee surgery is a set of procedures aimed at treating knee joint pathologies. These can be due to sports injuries (e.g. fractures, sprains or ligament tears, or inflammation), malformations, or degenerative diseases (e.g. arthritis).  Why is it done?Knee surgery is performed to treat degenerative or traumatic joint conditions. The pathologies most frequently treated

What are 'knock knees'?    Genu valgum, which is commonly known as knock knees, is a condition in which the knees are misaligned and there is a large gap between the feet and ankles. It is sometimes referred to as X knees or scissor knees due to the knees being very close together and the ankles very far apart. There are some normal changes (physiological changes) during gr

What is kyphoplasty? Kyphoplasty is a type of surgery performed on the spine to reduce pain caused by a spinal fracture or condition such as osteoporosis. A number of spinal conditions can cause the spine to fracture and compress, causing severe pain and making it more difficult to move. By stabilising the fractures with cement, kyphoplasty aims to alleviate pain, strengthen the spine, and i

What is a laminectomy? A laminectomy, also known as an open decompression, is an operation performed to remove the lamina, part of the bone of a spinal vertebra. The spine is a structure that protects the spinal cord and is composed of 33 vertebrae divided into the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions. The vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs. Why is it per