I’ve always been told I have an excessive Q-angle in the knee. This has been blamed for many of my knee problems over the years. Would a knee replacement help?

Joint replacements are designed to restore a smooth joint surface for patients with bone spurs and loss of joint cartilage from athritis. The soft tissues around the knee can be adjusted to improve joint alignment.

This may or may not change the Q-angle, which is the angle of pull of the quadriceps muscle on the patella or kneecap. The goal is to reduce uneven load on the joint so it will last longer.

Joint replacement for excessive Q-angle is not a current feature of treatment. Stretching, strengthening, and supporting the local muscles will help to decrease pressure at the kneecap from an excessive Q-angle.