Understand the condition before the treatment.
Clear explanations of symptoms, causes and diagnosis, and an honest view of when surgery is considered. Each page links only to medically relevant procedures.
Knee
Knee
Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the knee joint. Over time the joint becomes stiff,…
Knee
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Knee
Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own defences attack the lining of the kne…
Knee
Post-Traumatic Knee Arthritis
Post-traumatic knee arthritis is joint wear that develops after a past injury to the knee, such as a fracture, ligament…
Knee
ACL Tear
An ACL tear is a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, the strong band inside the knee that stops the shin bone sl…
Knee
PCL Tear
A PCL tear is an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament, the thick band at the back of the knee that stops the shin…
Knee
MCL / LCL Injury
An MCL and LCL injury is a sprain or tear of the ligaments on the inner or outer side of the knee, which stop it bendin…
Knee
Meniscus Tear
A meniscus tear is a split in one of the two C-shaped cartilage cushions that sit between the thigh bone and shin bone.…
Knee
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain at the front of the knee, around or behind the kneecap, that is brought on by load…
Knee
Patellar Instability
Patellar instability means the kneecap does not stay centred in its groove at the front of the knee. It may slip partly…
Knee
Knee Cartilage Damage
Knee cartilage damage is a break, thinning or soft patch in the smooth surface that covers the bone ends inside the kne…
Knee
Knee Fractures
Knee fractures are breaks in the bones that form the knee: the lower end of the thigh bone, the upper end of the shin b…
Hip
Hip
Hip Osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis is the gradual loss of the smooth cartilage that lines the ball-and-socket hip joint. It causes groi…
Hip
Avascular Necrosis of the Hip
Avascular necrosis of the hip happens when the blood supply to the top of the thigh bone is reduced, so part of the bon…
Hip
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hip
Rheumatoid arthritis of the hip is an autoimmune inflammation of the hip joint lining that erodes cartilage and bone. I…
Hip
Post-Traumatic Hip Arthritis
Post-traumatic hip arthritis is joint wear that develops after an injury to the hip, such as a socket fracture, a dislo…
Hip
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia means the socket of the hip is too shallow to hold the ball of the thigh bone securely. The joint then ov…
Hip
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Femoroacetabular impingement is a hip condition in which the ball and the socket are shaped so that they pinch against…
Hip
Hip Labral Tear
A hip labral tear is a rip in the ring of soft cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket. It can cause groin pain,…
Hip
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis is irritation and swelling of a small fluid-filled cushion (bursa) beside the hip, most often over the bon…
Hip
Hip / Femoral Neck Fracture
A hip fracture is a break in the top of the thigh bone (femur), most often just below the ball of the hip joint. It usu…
Shoulder
Shoulder
Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis is the gradual loss of the smooth cartilage that covers the ball and socket of the main shoulde…
Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear is a split in one or more of the four tendons that hold the shoulder ball centred in its socket and…
Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is shoulder arthritis that follows a long-standing, large tear of the rotator cuff. Witho…
Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the soft capsule around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thick and tight, s…
Shoulder
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement is pain from the rotator cuff tendons and bursa being pinched in the narrow space beneath the bony…
Shoulder
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder instability means the joint moves more than it should, so the arm feels loose, slips or gives way. It may foll…
Shoulder
Shoulder Dislocation
A shoulder dislocation happens when the ball of the upper arm bone is forced out of its socket, usually after a fall, t…
Shoulder
Labral / SLAP Tear
A SLAP tear is an injury to the top part of the cartilage rim of the shoulder socket, where the biceps tendon attaches.…
Shoulder
Avascular Necrosis of the Shoulder
Avascular necrosis of the shoulder happens when the blood supply to the ball of the upper arm bone is cut off, so part…
Shoulder
Proximal Humerus Fracture
A proximal humerus fracture is a break in the top of the upper arm bone, next to the shoulder joint. It usually follows…
Spine
Spine
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc happens when the soft centre of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its tougher outer wall and irri…
Spine
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is the age-related drying, thinning and weakening of the cushioning discs between the spine b…
Spine
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the channels that carry the spinal cord and nerves, most often from age-related arthr…
Spine
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg. It is…
Spine
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy is irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck, so that pain, tingling, numbness or we…
Spine
Lumbar Radiculopathy
Lumbar radiculopathy is a problem of one or more nerve roots in the lower back that are pinched, swollen or irritated.…
Spine
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one spinal bone slips forward over the bone below it. It can happen from a st…
Spine
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine, usually with some twisting of the vertebrae, that measures 10 degrees or mo…
Spine
Kyphosis
Kyphosis is an excessive forward rounding of the upper back, usually defined as a curve above 45 degrees on a side X-ra…
Spine
Vertebral Compression Fractures
Vertebral compression fractures are breaks in which the front of a spinal bone collapses into a wedge shape, most often…
Foot & Ankle
Foot & Ankle
Ankle Osteoarthritis
Ankle osteoarthritis is the loss of the smooth cartilage that cushions the joint between the shin bone and the ankle bo…
Foot & Ankle
Chronic Ankle Instability
Chronic ankle instability is a long-lasting problem in which the outer ankle ligaments are loose or poorly controlled,…
Foot & Ankle
Ankle Fracture
An ankle fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that form the ankle joint: the lower shin bone (tibia), the th…
Foot & Ankle
Achilles Tendon Rupture
Achilles tendon rupture is a complete or near-complete tear of the thick cord joining the calf muscles to the heel bone…
Foot & Ankle
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is irritation and small tears in the thick band of tissue under the foot that links the heel to the t…
Foot & Ankle
Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
Bunions are a bony bump on the inner edge of the foot where the big toe drifts toward the smaller toes. The joint at th…
Foot & Ankle
Flat Feet (Adult Acquired Flatfoot)
Flat feet means the arch on the inner side of the foot is low or has dropped, so most of the sole touches the ground. I…
Foot & Ankle
Hammertoe
Hammertoe is a bend in the middle joint of a smaller toe, so the toe curls downward like a claw or hammer. It usually a…
Foot & Ankle
Hallux Rigidus
Hallux rigidus is arthritis of the main joint of the big toe. The cartilage wears, bony spurs build up on top, and the…
Foot & Ankle
Morton's Neuroma
Morton's neuroma is a thickening of the nerve that runs between two toes, most often the third and fourth. It causes bu…
Hand & Wrist
Hand & Wrist
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a narrow channel at the wrist. It causes ti…
Hand & Wrist
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger is a snapping, catching or locking of a finger or thumb as it bends, caused by a swollen tendon sticking…
Hand & Wrist
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is painful swelling of the two tendons that move the thumb, where they pass through a tight…
Hand & Wrist
Dupuytren's Contracture
Dupuytren's contracture is a slow thickening of the connective tissue under the skin of the palm that forms firm nodule…
Hand & Wrist
Thumb Base Arthritis
Thumb base arthritis is wear of the cartilage in the joint where the thumb meets the wrist, called the carpometacarpal…
Hand & Wrist
Wrist Arthritis
Wrist arthritis is damage to the cartilage that lines the joints between the forearm bones and the small carpal bones,…
Hand & Wrist
TFCC Tear
A TFCC tear is an injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, the shock-absorbing cartilage and ligament cluster o…
Hand & Wrist
Hand / Wrist Fractures
Hand and wrist fractures are breaks in the small bones of the fingers, hand or wrist, including the end of the forearm…
Elbow
Elbow
Elbow Osteoarthritis
Elbow osteoarthritis is the gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the elbow joint, with bony spurs that block moveme…
Elbow
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a painful overload of the tendon that attaches the wrist-extensor muscles to the outer elbow. Despite t…
Elbow
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's elbow is pain and tendon damage on the inner side of the elbow, where the muscles that bend the wrist and fing…
Elbow
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression or stretching of the ulnar nerve where it passes behind the inner elbow. It caus…
Elbow
Elbow Instability
Elbow instability means the elbow joint is too loose and can slip, catch or feel as though it will give way. It usually…
Elbow
Elbow Dislocation
An elbow dislocation happens when the forearm bones are forced out of their normal position against the upper arm bone,…
Elbow
Distal Biceps Rupture
A distal biceps rupture is a tear of the biceps tendon where it attaches to the forearm bone just below the elbow, usua…
Elbow
Elbow Fractures
Elbow fractures are breaks in one or more of the three bones that form the elbow: the humerus, the radius and the ulna.…
Unsure about your diagnosis? Get a second opinion.
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