Knee Injuries
Kevin G. Shea, M.D.Our goal at Intermountain Orthopaedics is to help our patient athletes recover as quickly as possible from their injuries, and return to the activities that they enjoy. We work with our patients as a team, to design the best program to maximize their recovery. In most cases, the athlete will be able to return to the sports and other activities that were enjoyed prior to their injury. Knee injuries are one of the most common problems in recreational and competitive athletes. Most injuries are minor, and athletes will recover with appropriate rehabilitation. If your injury is severe, surgery and extensive rehabilitation may be required. Treatment options for knee and other joint injuries continue to improve, and the future holds great promise for new techniques to allow our patients to stay active and physically fit. We will work closely with you on your rehabilitation process, and we will help coordinate a personalized training regimen to speed your recovery.
In addition to devising the best treatment plan for your knee injury, we are also interested in preventing future knee injuries. Recent research suggests that certain types of serious injuries may be prevented in young athletes. In particular, female athletes competing in soccer, volleyball, basketball, and skiing have much higher risk of ACL injuries, compared with male athletes. We strongly encourage all athletes to be involved in year round training programs to stay in optimal condition, and prevent serious knee injuries. We can provide information about strengthening and conditioning programs, designed to improve strength, jumping ability, and speed, and to also reduce the risk of future knee injury. If you would like to obtain more information about these injury prevention programs, or receive monthly articles about sports medicine issues, please email your requests to IOSportsmedicine@aol.com.
The first step in the evaluation of your knee injury is to learn about the history of your knee. You will be asked to fill out a form related to your knee injury, as well as information about previous injuries. You will be interviewed and examined, to further assess your injury. Your physician, physician assistant, and therapist will be involved in your evaluation. The examination of your knee will look for evidence of injury, including fluid, pain, loss of motion, or abnormal looseness or laxity in the joint.
In many cases, x-rays or radiographs of your knee will be obtained, to look for certain conditions or bone abnormalities. X-rays or radiographs provide detail about the bony anatomy of the knee joint, as well as the alignment or posture of your leg. X-rays do not provide much information about soft tissues in your knee joint, such as cartilage, ligaments, etc. Further imaging studies, such as an MRI, may be necessary. The MRI provides detailed anatomic information about your ligaments, bone cartilage, meniscus, as well as information about inflammation or fluid in your knee.
Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to perform complex operations using small cameras and instruments. In most cases, several small incisions are made about the knee, and most of the incisions are less than 1/4 inch. The smaller incisions allow for easier rehabilitation, and less pain after surgery. Most arthroscopic surgery is performed as an outpatient, with patients going home within hours of completing surgery. In some cases, the arthroscope will be used to perform a portion of the surgery, or to assist the part of the surgery that requires a larger incision. Rehabilitation after surgery is crucial, and your surgeon and therapist will work closely on your post-operative program to maximize your recovery.
KNEE ANATOMY
The knee joint is a biomechanical marvel. It is designed to allow a wide range of mobility, and provide stability at the same time. Numerous anatomic structures combine to allow athletes to sprint, accelerate, jump, change directions, and perform numerous maneuvers. Different anatomic structures will be outlined in the following sections, as well as the important role these structures play in the function of your knee.