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The Knee

Your knee is composed of two joints: one between the thigh bone (femur) and leg bone (tibia) and one between the thigh bone and kneecap (patella). Between the thigh bone and leg bone are two crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage, called menisci. Adding to the anatomical elegance of the knee are fluid sacs (bursae), tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

The knee functions like a hinge joint, meaning that movement is primarily to flex or extend. There is also slight rotational and bending movement.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Knee pain is often the result of repetitive strain caused by overuse and further induced by improper movement patterns. Common knee injuries include:

  • meniscus tears
  • patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee) 
  • runner's knee
  • sprained ligaments

Other causes of knee pain include:

  • injury
  • infection
  • osteoarthritis
  • osteonecrosis
  • rheumatoid arthritis

When knee pain requires surgery to alleviate pain, our surgeons can perform any number of procedures. We specialize in the latest procedures, including minimally invasive surgery, for total knee replacement, arthrospopy, and more. See the complete list of surgeries we perform.

Learn More

Please call us at (415) 221-0665 to schedule an appointment or for more information. To find an orthopedic surgeon, use our online feature, Find a Doctor tool.