Distal Femur Cartilage Injury Treatment in Chillicothe, OH
Your distal femur is the bottom part of your thigh bone where it connects with the kneecap. Trapezoidal in shape, it sits behind your kneecap, making up the top part of your knee joint. (In addition to the distal femur, your knee joint is formed by the upper end of the tibia [shin bone] and the patella [kneecap] as well as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.)
Because your knee is one of your body’s weight-bearing joints and plays a major role in your mobility, injury to any of its various components will have an impact on your lifestyle and well-being. This includes injury to the articular cartilage that covers the distal femur, which serves as a smooth surface to allow the bones to slide freely in the joint.
Distal Femur Cartilage Injury Symptoms
Articular cartilage lesions of the distal femur occur when the cartilage covering the distal femur tears or breaks. Damaged articular cartilage does not heal on its own because it does not contain blood vessels.
Symptoms of distal femur cartilage injury include:
- Intermittent swelling
- Pain, especially with prolonged walking or climbing stairs
- Buckling or giving way under weight
- Locking or catching
- Noise during motion (crepitus)
Knee Cartilage Damage Grading
Doctors classify damage to knee cartilage using a grading scale based on what is seen via arthroscopy. The grades are listed below:
- Grade zero is normal cartilage.
- Grade one is when the cartilage has a softening, blistering or swelling.
- Grade two is when minor tears are visible in the cartilage.
- Grade three is when the lesions have deep crevices.
- Grade four is when the underlying bone is exposed.
Causes of Distal Femur Cartilage Injury
Damage to the articular cartilage surface can come from many sources, including any of the following:
- Being overweight
- Previous injury
- A misaligned bone
- Osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Everyday wear and tear
- Pivot or twist of the knee
- Direct blow to the knee
- An accompanying injury to a ligament or meniscus
Unfortunately, articular cartilage cannot regrow or repair itself.
Why Choose Dr. Cohen?
OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
One of the first orthopedic surgeons employed by a large hospital. Dr. Cohen spent 20 years.
TRUSTED BY OVER 100,000+ PATIENTS WORLDWIDE
Over his distinguished career, Dr. Cohen has cultivated a reputation of excellence and trust among his patients and his peers.
UTILIZING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
To achieve the best surgical outcomes, Dr. Cohen utilizes the most advanced technologies and techniques, keeping his practice state of the art.
PATIENT SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY
An individualized, patient-focused process coupled with decades of training and experience help ensure maximum safety for all of Dr. Cohen’s patients.
Distal Femur Cartilage Treatment Options
Dr. Cohen will discuss your damaged cartilage treatment options with you. Treatment may include weight loss, exercises to strengthen surrounding muscles, changes in physical activity, procedures to help the cartilage repair or regenerate, or transplant procedures. If the cartilage is worn so much that the underlying bone is exposed, a partial or total knee replacement may be necessary.
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Dr. Cohen may use arthroscopic surgery to treat your damaged cartilage. During arthroscopic surgery, small incisions are made in the knee area. Dr. Cohen then uses an arthroscope (a device about the size of a pencil that carries a tiny video camera) to look inside the knee at the cartilage and special tools to perform the surgery.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you are suffering from knee pain, schedule a personal consultation with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Cohen by calling or emailing his office today. Dr. Cohen has extensive experience treating knee pain and can diagnose and help you learn more about your knee pain treatment options.
