Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs – Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Before jumping into anything more complex, a conservative approach to injuries and disorders are typically the standard moderate method to ease pain from disease or trauma; but with the knee, the intricate blood supply to the tissues can make it challenging for the body to heal itself naturally. That’s why surgical procedures are often imperative to alleviate your pain and discomfort.
A meniscus tear is a good example of an injury where recommending a conservative approach is usually the first step many people undertake. Unfortunately, this is a common injury that can cause tremendous pain and swelling in the knee. Although the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate) and pain relievers might seem to ease pain initially, it seldom works long-term.
There are two types of meniscus tears,
traumatic (acute) and degenerative (age-
related). The most common of the two types of injuries is traumatic, so for all the exercise fanatics, weekend warriors or accident-prone individuals, the RICE method, along with NSAID’s (aspirin or ibuprofen) should be your first line of defense if you believe you’ve torn your meniscus. But along with this standard of care, any time you or a loved one experiences a knee injury; you should consult a physician for a medical examination immediately to evaluate how severe your tear might be. This can easily be determined by a physical exam, X-rays or an MRI.
What is the Meniscus?
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped shock absorber; two are in each knee, the lateral and medial. What’s unique about the meniscus is that only the outer portion of the tissue has a blood supply, while the inner portion receives nutrients intrinsically. What does this mean? Regrettably, it means that when you tear your meniscus, the primary reason it won’t heal on its own is due to this distinctive blood supply.
Along with traumatic tears, there are also degenerative tears related to the aging process. If knee pain is persistent due to degeneration, seeking medical attention quickly is critical to eliminate long-term gait issues.
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment
Swelling and pain in the knee are common symptoms of a meniscus tear and can be accompanied by sensations of clicking, locking, popping, catching, and occasionally even giving way.
After a thorough evaluation with appropriate images (X-ray/MRI), your surgeon will discuss with you whether or not they feel you need to have surgery. If surgery is necessary, there is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure that can be done in an outpatient surgery center. This allows the patient the convenience of going home the same day as their treatment.
The arthroscopic procedure for meniscus tears involves, trying to preserve as much of your meniscus tissue as possible. This is achieved by inserting a small camera through a tiny port in your knee so that your surgeon can see inside and clearly visualize the area that needs to be addressed. Your surgeon will then be able to insert small instruments through the other port and perform your surgery with no major incisions, and minimal, if any, disturbance to the surrounding tissue. Meniscus tears can be treated by suturing (stitching up the tear) and also by a meniscectomy, which requires cutting out the tear.
While conservative treatments are always
preferred for treating musculoskeletal problems, surgical intervention often poses the best solution to alleviate patients of their pain and restore joint function properly. If the tear is complex and will not respond well to a minimal repair, Dr. Higgs utilizes a computer aided highly regarded technique called, MAKOplasty® knee replacement technology.
With the proper diagnosis, treatment, rehabili-
tation and home care most people can return to their pre-injury range of motion and daily lifestyle activities within a few weeks or months depending on the severity of the injury.
Because meniscus tears are so common, if you feel that you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, please contact the Joint Replacement Institute at your earliest convenience, to make certain that the injury does not get any worse with continual wear and tear.
Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
After completing an orthopaedic surgery residency and then fellowship in joint replacement at the world renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Dr. Biggs entered into private practice in Massillon, Ohio. His joint replacement practice quickly grew to well over 400 joint replacements per year. The practice developed into a tertiary referral center for other orthopaedic surgeons who utilized Dr. Biggs’ expertise in revision joint reconstruction surgery. He was instrumental in the development of two, hospital-based, joint replacement centers as well as providing daily education for orthopaedic surgery residents.
During his time in Ohio, Dr. Biggs served as a national instructor for orthopaedic surgeons, teaching and developing their surgical skills utilizing minimally invasive joint replacement.
His practice also served as a site for multicenter investigational studies for developing new implants and procedures.
He continues to serve as a national instructor for knee and hip replacement including direct anterior hip replacement surgery. He serves as an advisor for developing new technologies in joint replacements as well as collecting information on patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes.
Dr. Kurtis Biggs, the founder of The Joint Replacement Institute, brings the experience of thousands of successful joint replacements to Southwest Florida. He is proud to present his unique style of practice providing personalized orthopaedic care combined with state of the art surgical techniques for unparalleled outcomes.
Please contact the Joint Replacement Institutes today for your consultation at:
1250 Pine Ridge,
Suite #203,
Naples, FL 34108
(239) 261-2663
