http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues Medical entries about the knee, it's injuries and afflictions. Part of the KNEEguru network. en http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/ Copyright 2005 2005-09-09T16:37:12-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/lower_limb_strength/ Adolescent and adult female athletes have a 4-8 times greater incidence of serious non-contact knee ligament injury than male athletes participating in the same sport. There has been a great deal of speculation and research to try and find out why this is so, with researchers describing in adolescent and adult populations gender differences in neuromuscular indices, such as muscle strength, running, cutting sidestepping, and landing characteristics that are believed to play some role in the gender difference. 2006-04-14T23:45:54-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/arthrofibrosis_of_the_knee/ Arthrofibrosis is a problem in which abnormal scar tissue forms within the knee. It usually occurs in post-traumatic and post-surgical settings and can manifest itself in many different ways. The severity can range from small amounts of scar tissue in certain locations within the knee that may only cause symptoms with certain activities to diffuse scarring that is chronically painful and completely restricts all motion of the knee. Arthrofibrosis usually restricts knee motion and causes pain, and it invariably poses a very difficult clinical problem to treat. Early recognition and appropriate treatment can be expected to restore motion and improve function in the majority of individuals who develop this problem. Whenever possible, it is important to identify the specific cause and target the treatment accordingly. 2006-02-08T23:07:01-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/state_of_the_art_in_knee_restoration/ Tissue engineering will greatly expand our ability to restore damaged knees, and other joints: and research in these areas shows great promise. For now, however, this case exhibits the cutting edge of knee restoration technology as it exists today and illustrates how far we have advanced even in the last few years. Indeed the chief purpose in writing this article is to disseminate information as to what is available in this fast moving field in which we can now restore more than most patients, and even physicians, currently realize. 2005-10-15T20:41:33-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/what_are_the_chances_of_dying_during_a_knee_replacement/ Are you contemplating a knee replacement and want to know the raw facts? Like ‘what are the chances of actually dying from this procedure?’. 2005-09-09T16:37:12-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/acupunctureforknees/ Is Acupuncture beneficial for knee pain? An overwhelming amount of research has been done to support the efficacy of acupuncture in general and for knee pain in specific.  In my own clinical practice I have had many positive responses in patients with knee pain of many different causes.  2005-06-13T01:04:13-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/mri_lie/ Unnecessary MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) testing and resultant surgeries are driving up the cost of health care in the United States. While personalized patient care and physician reimbursements are plummeting, health insurance coverage continues to soar. The cost of radiology, which is expected to keep growing at an annual rate of 20% or higher, is now outpacing the cost of prescription drugs for the first time. At a projected $100 billion annually, diagnostic imaging is one of the fastest growing concern areas in our health care. Data from IMV Medical Information Division – an Illinois market-research company - strongly suggests that efficient radiology benefit management could cut America’s imaging expenditures by $20 billion to $30 billion annually. They concede that about 1/3 of advanced imaging tests are either inappropriate or don’t contribute to a physician’s diagnosis or ultimate health outcomes.  2005-02-07T22:15:38-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/the_kneecap_muddle_how_are_we_going_to_resolve_it/ The medical profession is in a muddle when it comes to the kneecap.  We all agree that the medical word for ‘kneecap’ is ‘patella’, but there is a great deal of confusion about many of the other words used to discuss patellar problems.  So much so in fact that a group of top level knee surgeons – The International Patellofemoral Study Group – met to examine the problem. The outcome of their discussions was published in French by Dr Jean-Yves DuPont and in English by Dr Ronald Grelsamer 2004-11-28T21:20:45-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/book_review_total_knee_replacement_rehabilitation_the_knee_owners_manual/ "If arthritis and injuries are crippling you, TKA can change your life for the better! Written by an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist who specialize in working with joint replacement patients. Contains a step-by-step guide to the replacement procedure and a one-year program for complete rehabilitation." Authors Daniel J. Brugioni, M.D. and Jeff Falkel, Ph.D., P.T., CSCS Hunter House Publishers 2004 ISBN: 0897934393 272 pages. Well illustrated. Soft cover. 2004-11-23T09:44:56-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/unispacer_under_the_spotlight/ The UniSpacer, heralded as a minimally invasive alternative to knee replacement, has been in use for about five years now. The pioneers are beginning to present their experience to the world, amidst some controversy. I took time out to ask Dr David Trotter of the Center for Sports Orthopaedics, SC in Illinois (USA) a few questions – 2004-10-21T08:47:08-06:00 http://www.casebook.kneeguru.co.uk/index.php/knee/issues/uni_knee_implant/ Arthritis of the knee is an increasingly common problem amongst active patients, typically from ages 35 thru middle-aged and into the elderly population. The inner/medial cartilage area of the knee is quite often much more arthritic than the patellofemoral (under the kneecap) or outer/lateral compartments. However, while some patients can indeed point with one finger to the most painful portion of the knee (often that inner/medial compartment), others just say that “its my whole knee doc.” Despite the frequent perception of global knee pain, in reality, the percentage of individuals with primarily uni-compartmental/medial knee arthritis is much higher than is generally appreciated. 2004-10-08T21:16:47-06:00