Indiana Orthopedic Institute
Trusted Orthopedic Expertise. Unmatched Care. One Dedicated Team.
Your knees are essential for movement, stability, and everyday activity. At Indiana Orthopedic Institute, we specialize in advanced knee care at our clinics in Noblesville, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne. Whether you're experiencing joint pain, an acute injury, or arthritis, our expert team offers personalized treatments to reduce pain, restore function, and help you move with confidence again.
The knee is the largest joint in the body. Your knee helps you perform most everyday activities. The knee is made up of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia) to bend and straighten the lower leg. The kneecap (patella) slides in a groove on the end of the femur. Large ligaments attach to the femur and tibia to provide stability. The long thigh muscles (quadriceps) give the knee strength.
The joint surfaces where these three bones touch are covered with articular cartilage, which is a smooth substance that cushions the bones and helps them move easily. The medial and lateral meniscus are crescent-shaped bands of thick rubbery cartilage attached to the shin bone (tibia), that act as shock absorbers and stabilize the knee.
All other surfaces of the knee are covered by a thin, smooth tissue liner called the synovial membrane. This membrane releases a special fluid that lubricates the knee, reducing friction to nearly zero in a healthy knee.
Normally, all these parts work in harmony, but disease or injury can disrupt this harmony, resulting in pain, muscle weakness and reduced function.
The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic arthritis are the most common forms of this disease.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs in people aged 50 and older, and often in people with a family history of arthritis. The cartilage that cushions the knee bones softens and wears away. The bones then rub against one another causing knee pain and stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic autoimmune disease where the synovial membrane lining the inner surface of the joint becomes thickened and inflamed, producing too much fluid that overfills the knee joint space. This chronic inflammation can damage cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness throughout the body.
Traumatic arthritis can follow a serious knee injury because fracture or severe tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, causing knee pain and limiting function.
Non-surgical treatment such as weight loss, physical therapy, steroid injections, or visco-supplementation are often attempted to help arthritis pain. If these treatments do not relieve the arthritis pain or if the arthritis is advanced, knee replacement surgery is an option. Surgical options include:
Our patients are at the center of everything we do, from the research we conduct to the procedures we recommend and the advanced technologies we use to perform the procedures. We want to make sure you are well-informed and fully supported every step of the way. Family is important to us, and we treat each patient as we would our own family.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with a member of the Indiana Orthopedic Institute team, please call 317-620-0232 or book an appointment online.
Please fill out the form below to request an appointment with one of our surgeons, and our office will reach out to schedule your visit. If you have questions but do not need an appointment, please call our office at (317) 620-0232 or use our Contact Us form.
If this is an emergency, please go to your nearest emergency room or dial 911.