Knee Noise

DOES YOUR KNEE MAKE NOISE

 Let’s know why it happens and do you need to worry for that!

 Written By :

Dr. Ankur Saurav
Sr.Orthopedic Surgeon
Fellowship in Joint Replacement (Germany),  Fellowship in Sports Medicine (ISAKOS)

Introduction

Everyone among us once in a while experience Knee Make Noise. this Popping and Crackling sounds from our knees. For some it is once in a while but for others it is quite frequent and bothersome. In this article I will try to explain you about the common causes behind this sound produced by your knees and when to seek medical advice.

First Let’s Understand Our Knee:

The knee consists of:

  • Bones
  • Cartilage
  • Meniscus (Cushions)
  • Ligaments and
  • Lubricating fluid know as Synovial fluid

All the structures mentioned above are enveloped by a sheet like structure know as SYNOVIUM.

The abnormal sounds produced by our knee originate from the interplay between these structures. This may be physiological or pathological

Common Causes of Knee Sounds

1. Arthritis

Erosion of the cartilage and bones of our knee leads to abnormal grinding of the structures of our knee which leads to the production of Crackling sound on the movements of our knee. This sound is almost always associated with pain in your knees and is one the early symptoms of Knee Arthritis.

2. Injury

This may lead to damage to the structures of the knee like Meniscus(Cushion) or knee cap or ligaments and bones which may be the underlying cause of abnormal sounds produced by your knee. This may be associated with pain, laxity or locking of knee depending on the structure involved.

3.Gas Bubbles

With due course of time, small gas filled bubbles can build up in the Synovial fluid. When you move your knees some of these Gas Bubbles may burst producing Crackling sounds. This is usually not associated with pain and is harmless.

 

4. Ligaments and Tendons

These are the structures which hold your joints in place. Sometimes due to degenerative changes in the bones small bony bumps appear at the edges of knee bones. And on movement of knee these ligaments and tendons snap over these bony bumps and produce clicking sounds. They may or may not be associated with pain.

 

5. Maltracking of Patella(Knee Cap)

When your Knee Cap doesn’t move in the described path with the movement of knee then this may lead to production of abnormal sounds. This condition may be present since birth or due to age, injury or life events.

6. Surgery

After Total Knee Replacement your damaged bone surface is replaced by metals and plastic. These are much harder structures than bones and cartilage. Thus on movement of your knees these artificial components of knee replacement produce sounds. This is a very common phenomenon after surgery and shouldn’t be worried upon.

When to seek medical advice for noises around knee?

Whenever your knee noise is associated with:

  • Pain
  • Laxity or Instability
  • Locking of the knee while movement
  • Swelling around the knee
  • Previous significant injury history to your knee.
  • Muscle wasting around your knee.
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