The aging knee

The aging knee presents significant problems to the mature athlete who wishes to continue participation in sports. The meniscus is a key structure in the knee and an injury to it may open the door to progressive arthritic changes. Because of our appreciation of the importance of the menisci, treatment options are geared toward salvaging as much of the meniscus as possible. The anterior cruciate ligament is a frequently injured structure which is associated with meniscus tears, articular cartilage damage and progressive degenerative changes. Once an athlete develops degenerative arthritis of their knee, their treatment options are mainly limited to arthroscopic lavage and debridement or an osteotomy procedure. The new knowledge and treatment options have allowed physicians to increase their arsenal in their battle to keep the mature athlete participating in sports.