KNEE

is the largest joint in the human body and has an extremely complex structure. The femur and the tibia hinge together within the knee joint, and articular cartilage allows the joint surfaces of the upper and lower leg to glide against one another. Cartilage damage can occur as the result of acute injury or chronic stress due to malpositioning. The central and most important stabilization of the knee - to the front and back - is provided by the cruciate ligaments, while lateral stabilization is managed by the inner and outer collateral ligaments. The lateral and medial meniscus are crescent moon–shaped discs that act as shock absorbers and secondary stabilizers for your knees. Working together to stabilize the knee joint in all directions, the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament, and the medial and lateral meniscus are injured with particularly frequency.The simultaneous injury of these three parts has been dubbed the “unhappy triad”. As one of Vienna’s prime knee specialists, Dr. Gäbler sees around 4,000 patients with knee problems annually. The most challenging cases throughout Europe are transferred into his capable care at the Sportambulatorium Wien or the Center for Sports and Joint Surgery at Josefstadt Hospital.