Knee surgeon Perth

Knee conditions & procedures

Dr Sven Goebel is an Orthopaedic Knee Surgeon in Perth. Discover all conditions and procedures Dr Goebel can help you with.

Knee conditions | Knee surgeon perth

Types of knee conditions that may need surgery

Meniscus tears

What are meniscus tears?

A meniscus tear is an injury to the fibrocartilage in the knee. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that sits between the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shinbone). It helps to cushion and stabilise the knee joint.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a meniscus tear include pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving the knee. You may also hear a popping or clicking sound when the injury occurs, and may feel a sense of locking or catching in the knee. Inability to fully straighten or bend the knee may also be a symptom.

Is surgery needed?

Surgery can be required if symptoms do not improve with time, activity modification, simple analgesics and rest. Traumatic meniscus tears with displaced tears or the meniscus that result in a “locked knee” require urgent surgical attention.

Types of surgery

Surgery will either involve a resection of the displaced meniscus “flap” or repair of the tear if possible. This is almost exclusively done with arthroscopic techniques nowadays.

If you are experiencing knee pain or discomfort, please contact Dr Sven Goebel or request an appointment.

Ligament tears

What are ligament tears?

A knee ligament tear is an injury to one or more of the four ligaments in the knee that provide stability to the joint. The four ligaments in the knee are the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

Symptoms

Symptoms of a knee ligament tear can include pain, swelling, stiffness, instability, and difficulty moving the knee. Depending on the ligament that is torn, you may also experience a popping or snapping sound at the time of injury, and may feel like your knee is giving way or buckling. In severe cases, the knee may appear visibly deformed.

Is surgery needed?

Ligament tears can sometimes be treated without surgery, this would most commonly be the case for medial collateral ligament or posterior cruciate ligament injuries for example. Untreated anterior cruciate ligament tears often do not afford sufficient stability in the knee joint to perform activities involving high-level sport, in particular where frequent change of direction is done (soccer, rugby, netball to name a few).

Types of surgery

Ligament reconstruction forms the mainstay of surgical management for ligament tears as repair has often been shown to provide inferior results. Commonly utilisation of hamstring tendons from the same leg will give satisfactory results and gives the best chance to return to most sporting activities.

If you are experiencing knee pain or discomfort, please contact Knee Surgeon Dr Sven Goebel or request an appointment.

Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects the knee and other joints in the body. It is caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the bones in the joint, which leads to bone-on-bone contact. This can cause pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility in the affected joint.

Symptoms

Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness in the knee, particularly after periods of rest or inactivity, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and a feeling of the knee giving way or buckling. As the condition progresses, the knee may become swollen and deformed. Osteoarthritis is typically diagnosed based on a patient’s symptoms, physical examination, and imaging tests such as X-ray or MRI. There is no specific cure for osteoarthritis but there are various treatment options available to manage the symptoms, such as physical therapy, pain management, and in some cases, surgery.

Is surgery needed?

Surgery may be considered for knee osteoarthritis if conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, pain management, and the use of assistive devices, have not provided adequate relief.

Types of surgery

Some of the surgical options available for knee osteoarthritis include:

Joint replacement surgery, in which the damaged parts of the knee are removed and replaced with artificial components
Osteotomy, a procedure in which the bone is cut and reshaped to take pressure off the damaged joint
Arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure in which a small camera and surgical instruments are inserted into the knee joint to remove debris or trim damaged cartilage, or remove loose bodies.

If you are experiencing knee pain or discomfort, please contact Knee Surgeon Dr Sven Goebel or request an appointment.

Patellofemoral instability / dislocation

What is patellofemoral instability / dislocation?

Patellofemoral instability is a condition in which the kneecap (patella) is not stable in its groove on the thigh bone (femur). This instability can lead to pain, dysfunction, and a feeling of the knee giving way or buckling. The patella is a small bone that sits in front of the knee and helps to protect and stabilise the knee joint.
There are different causes of patellofemoral instability, including:

Trauma or injury to the knee, such as a direct blow or twisting injury
Overuse or repetitive stress, such as from running or jumping
Structural abnormalities, such as a congenital malalignment of the bones in the knee
Weakness or imbalance of the muscles around the knee, such as the quadriceps or hamstrings

Symptoms

Symptoms of patellofemoral instability can include knee pain, especially when going up or down stairs or hills, difficulty with activities that involve squatting or kneeling, and a feeling of the knee giving way or buckling. The diagnosis is usually made through a physical examination and imaging studies like X-ray or MRI.

Is surgery needed?

The decision to undergo surgery for patellofemoral instability will depend on the severity of the condition and the effectiveness of conservative treatment options. Surgery may be considered if conservative treatments such as physical therapy, bracing, and pain management have not provided adequate relief.

Types of surgery

Some of the surgical options for patellofemoral instability include:

Realignment surgery, which repositions the patella to better fit in its groove on the femur
Lateral release surgery, which involves cutting the tissue on the outside of the patella to relieve pressure and improve alignment
Soft tissue reconstruction, which involves reconstructing or repairing the ligaments and tendons around the knee to improve stability
Osteotomy, a procedure in which the bone is cut and reshaped to take pressure off the damaged joint

If you are experiencing knee pain or discomfort, please contact Knee Surgeon Dr Sven Goebel or request an appointment.