ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORT MEDICINE

Meniscus laceration is one of the most frequent sports related knee lesions. Meniscus lacerations may be repaired with sutures and may heal. Up to date treatment of meniscus lesions is via arthroscopy and the aim is to preserve as much meniscal tissue as possible.

The most important signs of meniscus lesions are pain at the joint line, blocking of knee or an audible click.

Sutured meniscus is preserved from loading with a knee brace and a gradual recuperation of range of motion is allowed in 6 weeks. Either after resection or preservation patient may walk the day after surgery and return to work in 4 weeks. Return to preinjury level of sport is expected.

ACL rupture is treated with ligament reconstruction. This is the replacement of ligament arthroscopically with a graft resembling ACL. With the new pain management strategies, ACL surgery may take a shorter time.

Usually, it is possible to walk on the day after surgery. Crutches are highly advised for 10 to 15 days to prevent further injuries. After operation there is an intense rehabilitation protocol in the first 6 months which requires patient participation.

Rupture of the reconstructed ligament or the ACL of contralateral knee is not impossible.

The real advantage of the surgery is a higher rate of returning to sports and prevention of further meniscus and cartilage injuries. Ligament injuries in the knee need to be thoroughly evaluated and treated by an expert of sport surgery in order to get the optimal result. Patient participation is a must after ACL reconstruction operation.

Correction of bone deformities require special bone cuts and fixation with plates and screws to restabilize the bone (osteotomy operation).

Under optimum conditions, the patient is less than 60 years old and the knee damage is localized.

Walking without loading is allowed in the day after surgery with crutches. Generally, in 6 to 8 weeks there will be a consolidation and in 6 months to 1 year the plates and screws may be removed.

Prosthetic replacement of a joint or arthroplasty is the mostly reliable surgical treatment to relieve pain and restore function in severely worn knee joints. The procedure involves cleaning of damaged bone and cartilage from your joint and replacing it with an artificial prosthesis.

The benefits of knee replacement are pain relief, improved mobility and a better quality of life.

In the operating day there is an intense pain control and patient stays at the hospital. Patients are allowed to walk the day after surgery. Wound care will end and there will be less and less need to pain relieving medications in 10 days. Three to six weeks after surgery, patients may regain most daily activities like going out and driving.

Most versions of knee prosthesis are durable more than 15 years.

Presence of any infection in the body, previous implants, scars of previous surgeries and medications are important to be known by the surgical team and taken into consideration to prevent complications.

X-rays and MRI are the two main examinations to be studied before the surgery.

Arthroscopic treatment of ankle osteochondral lesions is the gold standard. This approach gives the chance to treat some other conditions like inflammation of synovial membrane and removal of free osteochondral fragments with precision.

After the surgery, walking is allowed with crutches and an ankle brace for 6 weeks. Return to sports is allowed after 6 months from the surgery.