Knee Orthopedic Care at Maimonides

The knee is the largest joint in the body, and it’s also one of the most complex. It’s made up of the lower end of the femur (thighbone), the upper end of the tibia (shinbone), and the patella (kneecap). The knee joint is held together by ligaments, and the knee cap is held in place by tendons.

Healthy knees are able to bear weight and allow you to move freely. However, when the knee is injured or damaged, it can be very painful and make it difficult to move.

There are a variety of orthopedic knee conditions that can impact your quality of life. If you’re in need of orthopedic knee surgery, the team at Maimonides is here to help. At the Maimonides Bone and Joint Center, we offer a full range of orthopedic knee surgery options, from minimally invasive procedures to complex joint replacements.

• Ranked # 2 in New York State for Orthopedic Surgery (2025) by Healthgrades​​
• One of Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery for four years in a row (2022-2025)
• Recipient of Healthgrades Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Awards for four years in a row (2022-2025)
• Named among the top 5% in the nation for overall Orthopedic Services for four years in a row (2022-2025)
• Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement two years in a row (2023-2024)

To schedule an appointment, call 718.283.7400 today.

The Anatomy of the Knee

The two bones that form the knee joint are the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shinbone). The patella (kneecap) sits in front of the knee joint and protects it. The round knobs at the end of the femur and tibia are called condyles. The lower end of the femur has two condyles—the medial (inner) condyle and the lateral (outer) condyle. The medial and lateral condyles of the femur fit into the corresponding depressions on the upper end of the tibia, which also has two condyles—the medial and lateral condyles.

When bones move, they glide over each other smoothly thanks to a layer of cartilage. The knee joint has two types of cartilage—articular cartilage and meniscus cartilage. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones in the knee joint and allows them to glide smoothly over each other. The meniscus cartilage is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage that sits between the femur and tibia and acts as a shock absorber.

The menisci are cartilaginous pads that provide additional stability, shock absorption, and lubrication for the knee joint. There are two menisci in each knee—the medial (inner) meniscus and the lateral (outer) meniscus.

Ligaments are tough, fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones. There are four main ligaments in the knee joint—the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

Finally, muscles and tendons surround the knee joint and help to move the knee. The quadriceps muscle is a large muscle at the front of the thigh. It attaches to the patella via the quadriceps tendon and helps to straighten the leg. The hamstring muscles are a group of three muscles at the back of the thigh. They attach to the bones in the lower leg and help to bend the leg at the knee.

Common Knee Conditions

A number of conditions can impact the knee joint and cause pain. Some of the most common knee conditions include:

Orthopedic Knee Surgery and Other Procedures

There are a number of orthopedic procedures that can be used to treat knee conditions. An orthopedic knee doctor can determine the best course of treatment for each individual patient.

Orthopedic knee surgeries can include:

To schedule an appointment, call 718.283.7400 today.