Sports Injuries & Trauma
The knee is unfortunately a common part of the body that is injured doing a variety of activities. This section contains information on the types of injury that can effect the knee structures.
Meniscal Injuries
Meniscal injury relate to the C shaped discs that cushion your knee. They sit in between your thighbone and shinbone. There are two menisci in each knee.
They can get torn whilst playing sports, usually a twisting type injury often with immediate swelling of the knee.
After the initial injury, you may experience symptoms of pain, stiffness, locking and giving way of your knee.
The diagnosis is usually made following a detailed consultation including an examination of your knee. An X-ray may be taken as well as an MRI scan to diagnose a tear.
Treatment depends on the type of tear and how much trouble you are experiencing. If surgery is required it can involve trimming/removal of the meniscus or repairing the torn meniscus.
Ligament Injuries
There are several ligaments in the knee that can be injured.
The most commonly injured or torn ligament that may require surgery is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). This usually stops your shin moving forward relative to your thigh bone.
Normally when you twist on the knee everything turns together but when the ACL ligament is torn the knee buckles and you can no longer trust it. You may recall a pop and a swelling like a "balloon" during a sporting activity, although this is not always the case.
When examining there may be excessive movement found in the knee. The two main tests are called the Lachman test and the Pivot Shift test.
Other ligament injuries that may occur simultaneously or in isolation are: Posterior Cruciate Ligament injuries (PCL), Postero-lateral corner injuries (PLC) and Medial or Lateral Collateral Ligament Injuries.