Knee Specialist

Apurva Dalal, MD -  - Orthopaedic Specialist

Tri-State Orthopaedics

Apurva Dalal, MD

Orthopaedic Specialist & Robotic Surgeon located in Germantown, TN & Memphis, TN

Pain in the complex joint of the knee can be due to injury, overuse, or arthritis. Experienced orthopedic surgeon Apurva Dalal, MD, can help you determine the reason for your pain and effectively relieve it. You can set up a consultation with him at one of Tri-State Orthopaedics’ two locations, in Memphis and Germantown, Tennessee, to determine if surgery is necessary. Call or use the online booking agent to make an appointment today.

Knee Q & A

What can go wrong with the knee?

The knee is the largest joint in your body and consists of the femur, tibia, and patella, or kneecap. Articular, or surface, cartilage lines these bones and acts like a shock absorber to allow smooth functioning of the knee joint.

Between the tibia and femur lie two floating cartilages called menisci, which also act as shock absorbers and stabilizers. The medial and lateral collateral ligaments stabilize the knee, and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments prevent the knee from buckling.

Knee pain can occur when any of these bones or connective tissue experiences damage or injury.

What is knee arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy is a common procedure in which Dr. Dalal makes an incision and inserts a fiber-optic telescope to examine, diagnose, and treat a painful knee.

Dr. Dalal uses arthroscopy to evaluate and treat the following conditions:

  • Torn floating or surface cartilage
  • Removal of loose cartilage, loose bone, or cysts
  • Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament
  • Kneecap disorders

What is a meniscal tear?

Meniscus tears often occur during a twisting type of injury in sports or when standing up from a squat or rising out of a chair. As you age, the cartilage becomes more brittle, making you more vulnerable to such tears. Symptoms of a meniscal tear include:

  • Knee swelling
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Pain at the inner or outer side of the knee

What is an ACL tear?

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, commonly occurs during athletic activities. Once ruptured, the ACL does not heal and usually causes knee instability and the inability to return to normal sports. In most cases, Dr. Dalal recommends an ACL reconstruction during which a new ligament is fashioned to replace the ruptured ligament.

What disorders can occur with the kneecap?

Patella, or kneecap, disorders include maltracking and surface cartilage tears. In most cases, Dr. Dalal treats kneecap issues with physical therapy and rehabilitation. If these therapies fail, he uses arthroscopy to repair the problem.

How is knee arthritis treated?

Knee arthritis causes pain during everyday activities, including walking and going upstairs. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition, and rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory condition.

Dr. Dalal may use arthroscopy to treat rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the amount of inflamed joint lining. Several surgical procedures can relieve a knee joint that’s had cartilage worn away due to osteoarthritis. Depending on the severity of your arthritis, Dr. Dalal may even recommend a total knee replacement.


Tri-State Orthopaedics is proud to offer the latest in knee replacement technology - iTotal from Conformis. Conformis patient conforming knee replacements are designed to match the unique size and shape of each patient’s knee.*

Because off-the-shelf implants aren’t designed to your specific anatomy, surgeons often have to compromise on implant fit, rotation, and alignment. These compromises can cause pain or discomfort after surgery and help explain why 1 in 5 patients aren’t satisfied with their knee replacement1.

The Conformis technology offers unique advantages not possible with traditional, off-the-shelf implants:

  • Individualized fit that virtually eliminates sizing compromises common with off-the-shelf implants and often associated with pain after surgery
  • Design that follows the shape and contour of each patient's knee, which provides an increased potential for a more natural feeling knee
  • Maintenance of the patient's natural joint lines to avoid instability, which is a common cause of patient dissatisfaction

1. Bourne, et al; Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty. Who is Satisfied and Who is Not? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; 2010, 468: 57-63*