Knee pathologies

Introduction

The knee is the largest joint in the human body, made up of femur, tibia, fibula and patella. Meniscal injuries, ligament tears and gonarthrosis are the most common conditions.

Techniques

Surgical and conservative techniques

Total and unicompartmental replacement, arthroscopic ligament reconstructions, infiltrative therapies with growth factors and stem cells in early-stage cases.

Knee anatomy

The knee combines stability and mobility to a unique degree among body joints. In full extension it bears almost the entire body weight; in flexion it enables movements that maintain balance on any surface. The joint involves four bones: femur (the longest and strongest bone in the body), tibia (on which the femur rests), fibula (slender and lateral, attachment for muscles and the lateral collateral ligament) and patella, which glides in a femoral groove during movement.

Total knee replacement

The turning point in knee arthroplasty came in 2005 with the introduction of rotating-platform prostheses, which resolved the technical problems of post-operative rehabilitation and gait recovery. Prof. Colao's team uses exclusively ultra-congruent, high anatomical-match prostheses and, systematically, hypoallergenic implants. The mini-incision approach preserves vascularisation and minimises bone loss; the patella is preserved and, when necessary, treated with a reductive plasty rather than resurfaced, avoiding the mechanical complications frequent in American techniques.

Stem cells for the knee

Stem cells have been used in orthopedic knee surgery for over a decade, with particularly significant results in the treatment of cartilage lesions. Cells are harvested from the patient's own adipose tissue (autologous procedure), ensuring no rejection risk. The technique yields best results in younger patients with good biological response and in early-stage osteoarthritis: early intervention often slows deterioration and avoids more invasive prosthetic surgery.

Clinical information

Total knee replacement

Procedure: Total knee replacement with hypoallergenic rotating-platform ultra-congruent prosthesis
Hospital stay: Approximately 3 days
Anaesthesia: Regional, general or combined anaesthesia
Post-op course: Progressive weight-bearing from day 3; 4-6 weeks of targeted rehabilitation
Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy with progressive flexion-extension exercises; check-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months

Knee stem cell therapy

Procedure: Autologous harvest from adipose tissue and ultrasound-guided joint infiltration
Hospital stay: Day hospital or day surgery
Anaesthesia: Regional or local anaesthesia
Post-op course: Light activity resumed within days; progressive biological response over following weeks
Rehabilitation: Check-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months; personalised physiotherapy support protocol

The information has educational value and does not replace specialist medical examination.

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