Sports traumatology and ballet injury

The clinic is held annually 500-550 arthroscopic surgery. Of this number 70-80 % are highly skilled athletes, dancers and dance groups, circus performers, people leading an active lifestyle.

Sports medicine is one of the most popular and developed areas of modern traumatology.

Sports injuries such as shoulder injuries (shoulder rotator cuff damage, tear or tendonitis of the tendon of the long head of biceps, SLAP syndrome), knee injury (hemarthrosis, meniscus injury, chondromalacia of patella, a Koenig disease, damage to the menisci and ligaments, instability of the knee joint) injuries, sprains or tears of muscles and tendons, is a frequent phenomenon, especially in young patients leading an active lifestyle.

The most frequently asked questions from this very active group of patients are:

– How quickly will I get to my feet after the operation on the meniscus?

– If you do not have surgery, can I continue to play sports?

– Is it necessary to restore the ligamentous apparatus of the joint?

– Is the seam of the meniscus possible?

– after restoration of a ligament or cord of a joint long rehabilitation?

– I do not want to do spinal anesthesia, can I perform an intravenous anesthesia?

I will answer all these questions at the end of the article.

Do or not do an operation on the joint?

Of course, arthroscopy is indicated to athletes with joint injuries. In cases of damage to the meniscus-ligamentous apparatus of the joints, people who do not lead an active lifestyle – the indications for surgical treatment are narrowing, since small ruptures of the cartilage or meniscus, which do not annoy the patient after successful conservative treatment, do not need joint surgery. And vice versa – if the patient, despite a calm and measured lifestyle, from time to time experiences discomfort in the form of accumulation of fluid in the joint, crunching, pain, then the operation on the joint is absolutely indicated.

The advantages of arthroscopic study are:

100% accuracy – ability to visually evaluate the entire knee joint and its departments.
Reducing length of stay in hospital in 1-2 days the patient may be discharged.
The minimum degree of invasiveness – the procedure requires no incision and only a small puncture.
The possibility of obtaining photos and videos of the intra-articular study after the procedure (diagnostic or therapeutic arthroscopic operation).

In sports, and in particular: handball, martial arts, skiing, football, hockey – the risk of injury increases significantly.

The most common sports and ballet trauma requiring surgical treatment;

Rupture of medial collateral ligament and instability of the knee joint (rupture of the internal lateral ligament)
The anterior cruciate ligament rupture and instability of the knee joint
Tear of meniscus
Patellar Plica Syndrome
The rupture of discoid meniscus
Patello-femoral conflict, osteoarthritis
The chondromalacia of the knee joint
Habitual dislocation of the patella (patellar instability)

Complications after surgery:

Arthroscopy, as with all surgical intervention in the postoperative period can cause a variety of complications:

Hemarthrosis develops rarely as a result of profuse hemorrhage into the joint cavity.
Anesthetic complications arise as a consequence of the body’s response to anesthetic drugs.
Arthritis – inflammation of the knee joint (on the background of existing diabetes risk increases).

However these complications are rare and depend on the experience and qualifications of the expert. The most common is postoperative swelling, although it quickly passes.

Postoperative rehabilitation

Pretty short rehabilitation – the period of temporary incapacity is 2-3 weeks. The athletes can return to sports after surgery in 6-7 weeks, to participate in the competition recovery is 12-13 weeks. However, it is recommended a longer rehabilitation.

After carrying out knee arthroscopy expected rehabilitation course. Recommended recovery for 6 months, physical therapy – up to 1 year, although the recovery of limb function occurs first.

Outpatient treatment should include:

Anti-inflammatory medications.
Dressings of surgical wounds under the direction of a physician (1, 3, 9 days after surgery).
Lymphatic drainage is a special massage technique, which provides natural lymphatic drainage (reduces swelling) and the influx of a fresh portion of blood to the operated leg.
The rest, elevated position of the leg, possibly applying an ice pack – these actions help to reduce swelling.
Regenerative load on a joint in order to get recovery faster.

Answers on questions:

Question: How quickly will I get to my feet after the operation on the meniscus?

Answer: The full course of rehabilitation takes 4 weeks, in exceptional cases it is possible to accelerate the rehabilitation period to 2 weeks, but this requires the involvement of a rehabilitator, introduction of an artificial synovial fluid into the joint, the use of a special physical education complex and a shock wave therapy course.

Question: if I do not do the surgery, can I continue to play sports?

Answer: It is possible, with the success of conservative treatment, but we must bear in mind that the cause of the former pain is not eliminated and a relapse is possible.

Question: whether it is necessary to restore a ligamentous device of a joint?

Answer: It is necessary for athletes and ballet dancers. For people who do not engage in serious sports, this issue is returned 6 weeks after the injury and the course of conservative therapy.

Question: is the seam of the meniscus possible?

Answer: Yes, it is possible. But if the kind of rupture of the meniscus and the anatomy of the joint it allows. But we must take into account that after the seam of the meniscus, its repeated rupture is very possible.

Question: after restoration of the joint ligament, a long rehabilitation?

Answer: 6 months special treatment and 3 more months to avoid sharp rotations in the joint.

Question: Doctor, I do not want to do spinal anesthesia, can I perform an intravenous anesthesia?

Answer: The type of anesthesia is in the hands of an anesthesiologist. Only after a conversation with him you can find out the type of anesthesia. The most sparing kind of anesthesia is spinal.