Michael Parentis, MD, a resident of Buffalo, New York, has spent the last two decades leading a successful career in medicine. Serving as an orthopaedic surgeon with the WNY Knee and Orthopaedic Surgery group, Michael Parentis, MD, provides care for all orthopaedic problems in the body and is particularly familiar with injuries to such areas as the knee.
Made up of cartilage, ligaments, bones, and tendons, the knee is the largest joint in the body and, unfortunately, the most easily injured. Below are a few of the more common knee problems and injuries:
- Dislocation. This type of injury occurs when the bones of the knee are either partially or completely out of place. Dislocations often result from an abnormal knee structure or from high-energy trauma like motor vehicle crashes.
- Knee tendon bursitis. Also known as pes anserine bursitis, this condition affects the bursae, small sacs containing fluid located between the bone and soft tissue of the knee. Due to stress and overuse, these bursae can become irritated, thus causing pain inside the knee or just below the knee joint.
- Posterior cruciate ligament injury. Sports-related contact and motor vehicle crashes are the most common causes of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. These injuries occur when the front of the knee is hit while the knee is bent. As a result of the impact, the posterior cruciate ligament tears.
- Unstable kneecap. Normally, the kneecap rests in a notch in the femur that grants the kneecap enough room to move while walking, standing, and sitting. However, when this groove is shallow or uneven, the kneecap can slide off the femur during movement. Further, sharp blows to the kneecap can completely pop it out of place.
