Knee Injuries

Overview

Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sports Medicine specialists diagnose and treat the full spectrum of knee injuries, from the common to the complex. We offer a range of non-surgical and surgical treatment options to get athletes back to their sport, safely and quickly.

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Experts in Treating Knee Injuries

Mass General, part of the Mass General Brigham integrated health system, is the premier sports medicine provider in New England, with a proven track record of expertise and innovation in orthopedic care. Our nationally recognized sports medicine experts will treat your knee pain, and help you regain the mobility and strength you had before you were sidelined. We focus on getting you back to your active lifestyle as quickly and safely as possible.

A Team Approach to Treating Athletes

Our multidisciplinary team of sports medicine doctors are experts in treating athletes who participate in all sports. We partner with you to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and goals, and we will provide you with comprehensive care every step of the way—from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and recovery. We develop sport-specific plans to optimize your recovery, restore performance and prevent further injury.

At Mass General, our specialists work together to ensure the best possible outcome. Our orthopedic surgeons work closely with physiatrists, physical therapists, sports trainers, nutritionists, psychologists, coaches and other wellness experts to ensure we are treating the whole athlete rather than simply focusing on a temporary fix.

Our physicians drive breakthroughs in sports medicine research, technology and treatment. This means our patients receive the most advanced care, have access to an array of knee treatment options and experience safe, fast recoveries.

Common Knee Injuries

We treat the full spectrum of knee conditions that athletes deal with, including:

• Arthritis: Arthritic pain and inflammation of the knee joint
• Cartilage injuries: Cartilage tears, articular cartilage injuries, meniscus and meniscus root tears, osteochondritis dissecans
• Fractures: Kneecap, tibia (shin bone), fibula (calf bone) or malleolus (ankle bone)
• Instability
• Kneecap (patella) injuries: Patella dislocation, patellofemoral instability, medial patellofemoral ligament tear (MPFL; also called patellar instability), patellofemoral pain syndrome (also called runner's knee) and patellar tendonitis (also called jumper's knee)
• Ligament tears and injuries: ACL injuries, injuries to the PCL, MCL or LCL, multi-ligament knee injuries
• Loose bodies: Small pieces of cartilage or detached bone that float around the knee
• Other knee conditions: Unspecified knee pain, swelling, knee instability, knee dislocation or subluxation (partial knee dislocation), knee sprain, knee instability or knee contusion
• Pain/swelling

Options for Treating Knee Injuries

Treatment options for knee injuries depend on your medical history, the nature and severity of your injury and pain, the condition of your knee, your age and your overall health. Your treatment plan may involve one or more of the following approaches, based on their level of effectiveness:

Non-surgical Treatments:

• Physical therapy exercises to strengthen muscles around the knee
• Injections
• Wearing a knee brace, cast or splint
• Using crutches
• Modifying/limiting activity or avoiding high-impact activity
• Resting, icing or applying heat to the injured knee
• Over-the-counter pain medications

Surgical Treatments:

• ACL, PCL, MCL or LCL reconstruction surgery
• Arthroscopic knee surgery to treat loose bone fragments, torn ligaments, scarring, etc.
• Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy
• Arthrotomy to remove large loose bodies
• Cartilage restoration or transplantation
• High tibial osteotomy protocol
• Kneecap realignment or stabilization surgery
• Knee joint resurfacing
• Knee reconstruction surgery
• Knee replacement surgery
• Meniscus repair, transplant and/or trimming (meniscectomy)
• Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction surgery
• Patella/quad tendon repairs