Reynolds & McArthur, Trial Lawyers

Knee injuries

This page is not intended to amount to medical advice. If you have questions about a medical condition, you should check with a physician.

Severe knee injuries frequently occur in automobile accidents, from defective premises (e.g., wet surface on a waxed linoleum floor), in railroad workers' employment (from getting on or off trains), and through other on-the-job accidents. These injuries often involve submission of workers compensation claims (for lost wages), as well as possible claims for permanent or partial disability (a lump sum settlement with the workers' compensation carrier). So, if you have been injured and you believe or think that the cause of the injury is the fault of some other person or company, call us or email us to get a free evaluation of your case. What do you have to lose?

Below, please see a list of various medical terms that may relate to your knee injury. This may help you to understand medical reports or verbal instructions or explanations given by your doctor.

Glossary of terms

Anterior

Front

Arthrodesis

Fusion of a joint

Arthroplasty

Joint replacement

Arthroscopy

Surgery performed using a small tubular surgical tool which is inserted into the body providing the surgeon access to the affected area

Chondroplasty

Reparative surgery on cartilage

Crepitation, crepitus

Crackling sound heard on movement of a damaged joint

Degenerative joint

Joint deterioration resulting over a long period of time rather than from acute trauma

Effusion

Swelling

Epicondyle

The eminence at the articular end of a bone above the condyle

Hydrarthrosis

Intermittent and usually painless swelling of a joint, often the knee

Instability

Excessive motion in the joint usually caused by ligamentous insufficiency

Intra-articular

Within a joint

Lateral

Pertaining to the outside or furthest from the midline

Ligament

Band of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilage

McMurray

Orthopedic test for meniscus tear

Medial

Pertaining to the inside

Meniscectomy

Removal of meniscus cartilage of the knee joint

Osteoarthritis

A chronic disease involving the joints, characterized by destruction of the articular cartilage and impaired function

Osteotomy

Surgery that involves cutting through a bone

Patella

Kneecap

Posterior

Pertaining to the back side

Retropatellar

Behind the kneecap

Subluxation

A partial separation of a joint

Synovectomy

Excision of synovial membrane

Synovial membrane

Membrane that lines the capsule of a joint and secretes synovial fluid for lubrication

Synovitis

Inflammation of the synovial membrane

Tendon

Band of strong white fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone

Valgus Deformity

Bowlegged