Sports-Related Knee Injuries & Treatment Options:

ACL & Meniscus Tears

The knee joints allow movement of the body while supporting the legs, allowing the ability to stand, bend, turn, and walk. The knee joints connect the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). Each knee joint includes ligaments to hold the bones together and cartilage to cushion and stabilize the knee. Knee joint injuries are very common. The two most frequently seen sports-related knee injuries are ACL tears and Meniscus tears. These injuries tend to occur while playing sports or other activities that require turning, twisting, jumping and landing, and slowing down rapidly. Meniscus and ACL tears can also occur together in the same knee joint, depending on the injury.

A tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, usually occurs after a turning motion when the foot is planted on the ground. It can also occur when slowing down suddenly from a run or landing from a jump. The ACL is one of the four ligaments that connect the thigh and shin bones.

A meniscus tear usually occurs after a sudden twisting motion while a knee is bearing weight, or it can occur in older adults with degenerative arthritis of the knee. The meniscus is actually two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that wrap around the inside of the knee joint and act as a cushion between the thigh and shin bones.

Diagnosis:

1. Physical Exam
2. 2. X-ray of the knee
3. 3. MRI

Symptoms related to an ACL or Meniscus Tear:

1. A popping or snapping sound
2. Sharp pain
3. Swelling of the knee
4. Knee feels “locked in place” with meniscus tears

Treatment:

1. Rest
2. Elevate the injured knee
3. Apply ice to the joint for 24-48 hours after the injury
4. Medications: Anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen are recommended to reduce the swelling and pain
5. Apply a knee brace after the swelling has gone down to stabilize the knee joint as it heals

ACL Injuries:

An ACL tear usually causes an immediate sensation of the knee joint giving way, which may be accompanied by a popping or snapping sound. Often times the knee joint will swell and pain quickly follows. The initial diagnosis can be made during a thorough physical examination of the knee joint. Diagnosis can be confirmed with an x-ray or MRI which can also reveal if there is damage to other joints. Conservative treatment includes rest, knee elevation, applying ice to knee joint and wearing a brace. A partial tear of the ACL may not require surgery in patients who do not have a high activity level and can follow an exercise program designed to strengthen the leg muscles. A complete tear of the ACL almost always requires arthroscopic or open knee surgery, especially in athletes who want to return to sports activities. After surgical repair of the ACL, it will take about 4-6 months of rehabilitation and physical therapy to regain full use of the knee joint.

Meniscus Injuries:

In most patients who have a meniscus tear injury, they will experience a popping sensation that is followed by swelling and knee pain. After this type of injury, it may be difficult to bear weight on the injured knee, and it may feel as though the knee is “locked” in place. After a proper diagnosis and physical examination, treatment recommendations include: rest, knee elevation and applying ice to the knee joint for 24-48 hours. Pain and anti-inflammatory medications are also recommended to relieve the pain and swelling. Your physician may also recommend special exercises to strengthen the muscles that support the knee joint and leg. If the knee doesn’t respond to this conservative treatment, arthroscopic surgery may be used to examine the meniscus and repair or trim the torn cartilage. Most patients will recover from this type of surgery within 3-4 weeks and an return to sports activities is often possible within 3 months. In some instances where the meniscus is not repairable, a knee joint replacement surgery may be recommended by your physician.