Your knee joint bears your body weight, supports movement, and acts as a shock absorber. It is the largest joint in your body, as well as one of the most easily injured. Every year, millions of people see their doctors for knee injuries. 

Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals provides care for knee injuries in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV, for patients of all ages. Whether your knee injury is from aging or playing sports, look to our team to provide trusted care.

Common knee injuries we treat at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican include:

• Sprains
• Meniscal tears
• Dislocation
• Tendonitis and tendon tears
• Ligament injuries
• Fractures

Take our joint pain assessment, then find an orthopedist near you today.

What causes knee problems?

Knee injuries usually result from trauma of some kind. Often, the trauma affects more than one structure in the knee. High-energy trauma, such as sports injuries or car accidents, is usually the cause of dislocations, fractures, and ligament or tendon tears.

Other injuries, such as tendonitis, sprains, and meniscal tears, can occur from either acute trauma or chronic overuse. This can eventually weaken the knee and lead to injury, including repetitive stress injury.

Diagnose your knee injury symptoms

Pain and swelling are the most common symptoms of any kind of knee injury. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Difficulty moving the knee
• Catching or locking of the knee
• Instability or feeling like your knee is loose or gives way when you use it

For fractures and dislocations, the knee may appear deformed or out of alignment.

Knee injury treatment & prevention 

Your treatment and prevention options depend on the severity of your knee injury. Minor injuries may respond to rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). Anti-inflammatory medicines can help relieve minor pain and swelling.

It’s important to seek medical care right away in these cases:

• You heard a pop with the injury.
• Your knee gave out with the injury.
• Your pain is severe.
• You can’t move your knee or bear weight on it.

Your doctor may be able to treat your injured knee with nonsurgical methods such as immobilization with a brace, physical therapy, and joint injections to reduce inflammation and help with healing.

Many knee injuries eventually require surgery to fully restore knee function. Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican offers several advanced knee surgeries, including custom knee replacement, preserving knee implants, and more.

After your surgery, physical therapy can help you recover and prevent future knee problems.

Orthopedic specialists at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals diagnose and treat knee injuries in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.