Sports Knee injuries
Sports knee injuries can involve damage to many different structures including the following”
- Meniscal tears
- Anterior cruciate ligament tear
- Injury to the medial ligament
- Multi ligament injury
- Damage to the lining of the knee joint (hyaline cartilage)
- Dislocation of the knee cap (patella).
- Injuries to the quadriceps tendon and the patellar tendon
- Intra-articular (into the knee joint) fractures involving the femur, tibia or patella. These fractures can be serious and need urgent attention.
The surgeons at Knox Orthopaedic Group treat all of these sports knee injuries. A thorough history will be taken and an examination will be performed. X-rays are essential to rule out fractures. An MRI scan is often useful to diagnose soft tissue injuries such as meniscal tears or ligament injuries. A CT scan may be helpful if a fracture has occurred in the knee joint.
The initial treatment of sports knee injuries involves the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)protocol. Serious injuries may require an ambulance transfer to a hospital emergency department. Less serious injuries can often be seen in the consulting rooms.
Definitive treatment of a sports knee injury will occur once the diagnosis is clear. Physiotherapy is often useful to regain movement and strength in the knee. Surgery may be necessary for significant sports knee injuries.