How to Choose the Best Knee Care Specialist for Your Knee Condition

Author : KNEECARES The Superspeciality Knee Clinic | Published On : 03 Nov 2023

The knee is one of the most complex and important joints in the human body. It allows us to walk, run, jump, squat, and perform many other activities. However, the knee is also prone to various injuries and diseases that can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. Some of the common conditions that affect the knee are:

• Osteoarthritis: This is a degenerative condition that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears away, causing bone-on-bone friction and inflammation.
   
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation and damage to the synovial membrane that lines the joint, resulting in pain, swelling, and deformity.
   
• Meniscus tear: This is a tear in the crescent-shaped cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and the shin bone. It can occur due to sudden twisting or overuse of the knee.
   
• Ligament tear: This is a tear in one of the four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. The most common ones are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which prevent the shin bone from sliding forward or backward relative to the thigh bone. Ligament tears can occur due to trauma, such as a sports injury or a fall.
   
• Fracture: This is a break or crack in one of the bones that form the knee joint. Fractures can occur due to direct impact, such as a car accident or a fall, or due to stress or overuse.

A knee care specialist is a doctor who has specialized training and expertise in diagnosing and treating various knee problems. A knee care specialist can be an orthopedic surgeon, a rheumatologist, a sports medicine doctor, or a physiatrist. Depending on the type and severity of the knee problem, a knee care specialist may recommend different treatment options, such as:

• Medications: These include pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can help reduce pain and inflammation and slow down disease progression.
   
• Physical therapy: This involves exercises and stretches that can help strengthen the muscles around the knee, improve range of motion, and reduce stiffness and swelling.
   
• Injections: These include hyaluronic acid injections that can lubricate the joint and improve its function, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections that can stimulate healing and regeneration of damaged tissues.
   
• Arthroscopy: This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera and instruments to examine and treat the inside of the joint. Arthroscopy can be used to remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage, repair torn meniscus or ligaments, or smooth out rough surfaces.
   
• Knee replacement surgery: This is a major procedure that involves replacing damaged parts of the knee joint with artificial components made of metal and plastic. Knee replacement surgery can be partial or total, depending on how much of the joint is affected.

Knee Care Expertise: What It Means and Why It Matters

Knee care expertise refers to the knowledge and skills that a knee care specialist possesses in order to provide high-quality care for patients with various knee problems. Knee care expertise is important because it can ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, optimal outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Some of the factors that contribute to knee care expertise are:

• Education: A knee care specialist should have completed medical school and residency training in orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, sports medicine, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. Additionally, they should have obtained board certification in their respective fields and maintained their credentials through continuing education.
   
• Experience: A knee care specialist should have performed a sufficient number of procedures related to knee problems and have exposure to different types of cases and complications. They should also have access to advanced equipment and facilities that can support their practice.
   
• Research: A knee care specialist should be involved in conducting or participating in clinical trials or studies that can contribute to new knowledge or innovations in their field. They should also keep up with current literature and evidence-based guidelines that can inform their clinical decisions.
   
• Communication: A knee care specialist should be able to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, and other health professionals. They should be able to explain complex medical concepts in simple terms, listen actively to patients’ concerns and preferences, provide clear instructions and expectations, and collaborate with other members of the health care team.

Knee Specialist Surgeon: Who They Are and What They Do

A knee specialist surgeon is an orthopedic surgeon who has further training and experience in performing surgical procedures related to the knee joint. A knee specialist surgeon can perform various types of surgeries depending on the nature and extent of the knee problem.

Some of the common surgeries performed by a knee specialist surgeon are:

• Knee arthroscopy: This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera and instruments to examine and treat the inside of the joint. Knee arthroscopy can be used to remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage, repair torn meniscus or ligaments, or smooth out rough surfaces.
   
• Partial knee replacement: This is a procedure that replaces only the damaged part of the knee joint with an artificial component. Partial knee replacement can be done for patients who have osteoarthritis in only one compartment of the knee (medial, lateral, or patellofemoral).
   
• Total knee replacement: This is a procedure that replaces the entire knee joint with artificial components. Total knee replacement can be done for patients who have severe osteoarthritis or other conditions that affect the whole joint.
   
• Revision knee replacement: This is a procedure that replaces a previous knee replacement that has failed due to infection, loosening, wear, or fracture. Revision knee replacement can be more complex and challenging than primary knee replacement.
   
• Knee osteotomy: This is a procedure that involves cutting and reshaping the bone above or below the knee joint to correct its alignment and redistribute the weight-bearing load. Knee osteotomy can be done for patients who have mild to moderate osteoarthritis and varus (bow-legged) or valgus (knock-kneed) deformity.

Dr Amit Meena: A Renowned Knee Care Specialist in Jaipur

Dr. Amit Meena is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee surgeries and an internationally recognized authority on the diagnosis and treatment of complex knee problems. He practices at KneeCares: The Superspeciality Knee Clinic in Jaipur1.

Dr. Amit Meena has performed over 1,000 successful knee surgeries and has published many scientific papers in prestigious orthopedic journals. He is also an active reviewer of many renowned journals such as JBJS, AJSM, CORR, KSSTA, ARTHROSCOPY, JEO, OJSM and JISAKOS.

Dr Amit Meena has been awarded with many prestigious national and international awards for his excellence in surgeries in particular, Joint Replacement and Sports Injuries. Some of his awards are:

• Best Paper Award at Indian Orthopaedic Association Conference 2018
• Best Paper Award at Indian Arthroplasty Association Conference 2019
• Best Paper Award at Indian Arthroscopy Society Conference 2020
• Young Investigator Award at International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Congress 2021
• Best Research Award at Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association Congress 2021

Dr Amit Meena offers comprehensive treatment for various knee conditions, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Meniscus tear
• Ligament tear
• Fracture
• Deformity
• Infection

Dr Amit Meena provides personalized care in a friendly environment, using only top-notch implants with a proven track record. He uses the latest technologies and techniques, such as:

• Computer navigation
• Robotic surgery
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Cementless implants
• Custom-made implants
• Patient-specific instrumentation

Dr Amit Meena is dedicated to his patients in the entire spectrum of non-operative and operative treatments to restore patients with knee disorders and sports injuries to an active healthy lifestyle and return to their occupations. He encourages all family members to be part of the care team and he is listed as one of the top centers in patient satisfaction.

Knee Replacement Surgery: What It Is and When It Is Needed

Knee replacement surgery is a technique that removes a diseased or damaged knee joint and replaces it with an artificial joint (prosthesis). The most common reason for this operation is severe osteoarthritis, which causes relentless pain, joint deformity and mobility problems.

Total Knee replacement surgery can be performed as a partial or a total knee replacement. In general, the surgery consists of replacing the diseased or damaged joint surfaces of the knee with metal and plastic components shaped to allow continued motion of the knee.

To decide whether a knee replacement is right for you, a surgeon checks your knee’s range of motion, stability, and strength. X-rays help show the extent of damage. The right artificial joints and surgical techniques for you depend on your age, weight, activity level, knee size and shape, and overall health.

Knee replacement surgery can provide significant benefits for patients who suffer from severe or chronic knee problems. Some of these benefits are:

• Reduced pain
• Improved function
• Enhanced quality of life
• Increased activity level

However, like any surgery, knee replacement surgery also carries some risks and limitations. Some of these are:

• Infection
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Loosening or wear of the implant
• Need for revision surgery