Hip and Knee Injuries

Your hip and knee joints were designed to last a lifetime, but injuries, excess weight, arthritis and other diseases can cause these joints to ache, hurt and lose mobility and flexibility. At The University of Kansas Health System, we provide care for a wide range of hip and knee problems, including both sports injuries and underlying health conditions like arthritis.

Hip and knee injuries can cause pain when climbing stairs, getting up from a chair or even while walking and doing other everyday activities. The pain can range from mildly irritating to incapacitating. Hip and knee injury can be treated with medications, injections, physical therapy, surgery and, if necessary, total joint replacement.

Our team of specialists treat a range of injuries and health conditions that affect the hip and knee:

• Arthritis of the knee and hip
• Baker's cysts (popliteal cyst)
• Bone spurs
• Bursitis
• Cartilage damage
• Chronic exertional compartment syndrome
• Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
• Hamstring tears
• Hip pain and hip injuries
• IT band syndrome
• Joint pain and degenerative joint disease
• Knee pain and injuries
• Labral tears
• Ligament tears – ACL, MCL/LCL, PCL
• Meniscus tear
• Patella dislocations
• Patellar tendon tears and injuries
• Stress fractures
• Tendonitis, tendinosis and tendinopathy

Symptoms of a hip or knee injury can vary in specifics and intensity, depending on the underlying cause. Possible signs that you’ve injured your hip or knee include:

• Pain in the hip or knee, especially pain that worsens with movement
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling or bruising around the hip or knee

Pain in the knee can sometimes be the only sign of a hip injury. This is because pain in the hip can cause you to change the way you walk to compensate, which in turn puts strain on the knees. Knee pain can also be a possible symptom of a foot or ankle injury.

You can lower your risk for hip or knee injuries if you:

• Modify or stop activities that cause discomfort
• Stretch before running or playing sports
• Wear footwear that helps keep your foot and ankle properly aligned with your knee and hip joints

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and take a complete medical history to evaluate the nature of your hip or knee injury. Some of the factors your doctor may look for include:

• If the hip or knee area looks swollen or feels tender to the touch
• Range of motion in the hip or knee
• Whether the symptoms you experience happen only when your hip or knee is held in a certain position

Your doctor may also recommend imaging tests to identify the extent of your injury or condition:

• A CT scan to look at joint structures
• An ultrasound to show how the joint and tissues work together when in motion
• An X-ray to locate fractures or broken bones
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create more detailed images

The best treatment for your hip or knee injury depends on the type of injury or joint condition you have. The University of Kansas Health System offers a number of treatments to address different injuries and conditions that affect the hip and knee:

• Cartilage replacement transplantation
• Hamstring repairs
• Hip arthroscopy
• Hip preservation and replacement
• Joint aspiration and injection
• Knee reconstruction – ACL, MCL/LCL, PCL
• Knee replacement and preservation
• Labral repair and reconstruction
• Meniscus repair meniscectomy meniscus transplant
• Minimally invasive hip replacement (direct anterior hip replacement surgery)
• Nonsurgical treatment, including physical therapy and rehabilitation
• OCD lesion repairs
• Periacetabular osteotomy

At The University of Kansas Health System, we have a number of qualified specialists who treat hip and knee pain. Your care team may include orthopedists, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine doctors, physiatrists or other specialists, depending the cause of your hip and knee pain. They are part of a dedicated, multidisciplinary team that also includes anesthesiologists, nurses and physical and occupational therapists who work together to help you recover.

This team will support you from your first preoperative assessment visit and throughout your recovery. In addition, you will have access to the full resources of the health system – specialized imaging technologies, state-of-the-art physical facilities, comprehensive education and recovery support resources – to help you heal as quickly and completely as possible.