Steroid injection into the knee is a well-known effective short-term method of getting control of disabling pain and quickly improving function. Since the effects wear off after seven to 10 days, it's not meant for long-term pain control. But it can help a person get on a pain control program with follow-up using nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDs) and analgesics (pain relievers like Tylenol).

Research has shown that corticosteroids injected into the joint work for reducing knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. But the pain reducing effect only lasts about one week. Steroid injections offer short-term pain relief but they aren't advised for more than that.

Research has shown that corticosteroids injected into the joint work for reducing knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. But how long does the effect last? Osteoarthritis is a chronic problem, so long-term solutions are needed. Just how well do steroid injections work? According to the results of this study: the pain reducing effect lasts about one week. Steroid injections offer short-term pain relief but they aren't advised for more than that.

Statistical data on orthopedic surgeries performed in the U.S. show that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common. The number of ACL surgeries is on the rise and not because there are more surgeons around to do the surgery or because there are more people in general (as measured by the U.S. census). More people are active and involved in sports and activities that can lead to trauma and knee injuries.

Complications such as infection can happen after any surgical procedure. The surgeon and his or her staff do everything possible to avoid this problem, but it does happen. Besides the obvious reasons such as inadequate sterile technique during surgery, efforts are underway to look for risk factors among patients that might predict post-operative problems of this type. The goal, of course, is to reduce (eliminate!) such complications.

Anytime a common surgical procedure is done, it is important to follow-up and make sure the operation was done safely and had the intended outcomes. In this study, the results of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were evaluated. The three areas of interest were: 1) number of ACL reconstruction surgeries done between 1997 and 2006, 2) how often these patients need another surgery later, and 3) risk factors to predict readmission and revision rates.

Microfracture repair of defects (holes) in the joint surface has become a popular way to treat significant damage to the articular cartilage of the knee. The procedure involves several steps. First, the surgeon removes any ragged edges along the tear. This is called debridement. Then the layer of calcified (hard) cartilage is removed to expose the subchondral bone. Subchondral just means the bone is right below the articular cartilage -- like subflooring in a house.

Perhaps, but probably not without a little help. Studies show that a loss of muscle strength and power are typical after unilateral knee replacement (UKR). UKR refers to the placement of an implant on one side of the knee (either medial on the inside half of the joint closest to the other knee or lateral on the outside of the joint). Walking speed, recovery from falls, and stairs can all be affected by persistent muscle weakness after this procedure.

This type of knee replacement is designed to replace only the portions of the joint that are most damaged by arthritis. The operation is less invasive than a full knee replacement. There are significant advantages, especially in younger patients who may need to have a second artificial knee replacement as the first one begins to wear out. Removing less bone during the initial operation makes it much easier to perform a revision artificial knee replacement later in life.

Despite more than 30 years of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repairs, therapists still haven't nailed down the best way to go about rehabilitating this injury. Traditional strength training programs have used resistive exercises to help patients regain motion, strength, and function.