KNEE

is the largest joint in the human body and has an extremely complex structure. In the knee joint, the femur and tibia move against one another. The articular cartilage allows the joint surfaces of the femur and tibia to glide smoothly over one another. Cartilage injuries can occur either as a result of acute trauma or chronically due to misalignment. The central and most important stabilisation of the knee joint in the anterior and posterior directions is provided by the cruciate ligaments. Lateral stabilisation is provided by the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The shock-absorbing function in the knee joint is performed by the medial and lateral menisci. These are crescent-shaped discs which also serve as secondary stabilisers. The anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the medial and lateral menisci are particularly prone to injury; together, they stabilise the knee joint in all directions. The term “unhappy triad” refers to the simultaneous injury of the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus. As a knee specialist in Vienna, Univ. Prof. Dr Christian Gäbler sees around 4,000 patients with knee problems each year – he is referred the most difficult cases from across Europe, which he treats at the Sportambulatorium Wien or operates on at the Centre for Sports and Joint Surgery at PK Josefstadt.