Knee Care

A Wide Range of Knee Treatment Options

Whether you have arthritis, shin splints, a torn ligament, or other sports-related knee injury, the experts at West Suburban Medical Center are here to help you. West Suburban offers a full continuum of knee care that will help you to start living without pain. Our orthopedic specialists offer treatment ranging from rehabilitation to knee replacement.

Knee Diseases & Conditions

Finding relief from your knee condition starts with knowledge. At West Suburban Medical Center, we strive to stay up-to-date on the latest orthopedic diseases and conditions affecting the knee — and to share that information with the community of Oak Park.

ACL Injury

Spraining or tearing the anterior cruciate ligament, commonly referred to as the ACL, is one of the most common knee injuries. While people who participate in high-impact sports — like basketball, soccer, and football — are more prone to injure their anterior.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a common medical term that refers to the inflammation of a joint, including the knee. The injury is accompanied by stiffness, swelling, and pain. While there are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types.

Collateral or combined ligament injury

Knee ligament sprains or tears are a common sports injury. Any sort of direct contact to the knee or sudden change in direction can cause injury to the knee ligament. Injured ligaments, also referred to as sprains, are graded on a severity scale from one to three, with three being the most severe and complete tear of the ligament.

Fractures of the distal femur (thighbone)

When a fracture or bone break occurs above the knee joint, it is referred to as a distal femur or thighbone fracture. The distal femur is where the bone flares out like an upside-down funnel.

Fractures of the proximal tibia (shinbone)

When a fracture or bone break occurs below the knee joint, it is referred to as a fracture of the proximal tibia, or shinbone. The proximal tibia is the upper portion of the bone where it widens to help form the knee joint.

Growth Plate Fractures

Children are still growing, which makes them prone to a unique injury called a growth plate fracture. A growth plate is an area of cartilage near the end of a bone. Since growth plates are the last part of a child’s bones to ossify or harden, they are very vulnerable to fractures.

Meniscal Tears

An extremely common knee injury, a meniscal tear occurs when the cartilage in the knee is ruptured. While anyone can get a meniscal tear, it commonly affects athletes, particularly those who play contact sports.

Patellar Tendon Tear

Tears to the patellar tendon occur where the tendon attaches to the kneecap. Tears are generally classified as either partial or complete. During a complete tear, the tendon is separated from the kneecap, making it difficult to straighten the knee.

Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee)

This injury is characterized by inflammation of the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shinbone. The condition is commonly referred to as jumper’s knee because it is typically caused by frequent jumping on hard surfaces, which leads to overuse of the knee joint.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

This broad term is used to describe pain in the front of the knee and around the kneecap (patella). This injury can occur in non-athletes, although it most commonly affects people who participate in sports — specifically young adults and females — therefore, this injury is often called runner’s knee or jumper’s knee.

Quadricep Tendon Tears

The quadricep tendon attaches the quadricep to the knee cap. When the quadricep tendon tears, straightening the leg is painful. Tears to the quadricep tendon can be either partial or complete. This injury is most common in middle-age adults who run, jump, or participate in sports.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Located in the back of the knee, the posterior cruciate ligament is one of several ligaments that connect the thighbone to the shinbone. Symptoms of a torn posterior cruciate ligament include knee pain and swelling, stiff knee, difficulty walking, and an unstable knee that feels like it may give out.

Shin Splints

This injury often occurs after a sudden change in physical activity, such as increasing the level of exercise performed each week. Shin splints occur when the muscle and bone tissue in the leg become overworked by repetitive activity. Other factors can contribute to shin splints, including improper footwear or abnormally rigid arches.

Stress Fracture

A stress fracture is considered one of the most common injuries in sports — with those participating in tennis, track and field, gymnastics, and basketball the most susceptible. Typically, a stress fracture occurs when muscles become fatigued and are unable to absorb added shock and transfers that shock to the bone. This causes a tiny crack in the bone, also known as a stress fracture.

Unstable Kneecap

When a kneecap (patella) works properly, it rests in a groove at the end of the thighbone. When the knee bends, the patella moves within the groove. During a hard blow or fall, the patella slides too far to one side or the other, causing a complete or partial dislocation, also known as an unstable kneecap.