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Arthroscopy & Sports Injury
Overview
Sports injuries are common and can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. Immediate diagnosis and treatment of these injuries are crucial for a successful recovery. Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat joint-related problems, including sports injuries.
At Max Healthcare, we are committed to providing our patients the most effective and advanced treatments for sports injuries. Our team of highly experienced orthopaedic surgeons utilises arthroscopy to diagnose and treat joint problems minimally invasively, leading to faster recovery times and minimal scarring.
What is Arthroscopy?
A minimally invasive surgical technique, arthroscopy makes use of a small camera, called an arthroscope, to visualise and diagnose joint problems. The arthroscope is inserted through a small incision, allowing the surgeon to view the joint on a monitor and identify any injuries or abnormalities.
Benefits and Types
An orthopaedic surgeon or bone doctor may choose to specialise in a distinct branch of orthopaedic medicine. These branches are called subspecialties. Some orthopaedic subspecialties are:
- hand and upper extremities
- trauma surgery
- foot and ankle or podiatry
- paediatric orthopaedics
- sports medicine
- orthopaedic oncology, including tumour and cancer care
- spine surgery
- joint replacement surgery
The benefits of performing an arthroscopy procedure over open surgery are:
- Smaller incisions
- Less post-operative pain
- Less invasive and involves lesser surrounding healthy areas of the joint
- Minimal scarring
- Early return to activity
- Lesser hospitalisation time and rapid recovery
- Lesser wound-related complications
Symptoms
Pain is the most common symptom of sports injuries. However, the type of pain can differ from one injury to the other. Acute injuries cause sharp, stabbing pain, for example, fractures. Depending on the type of injury, the pain is cramping, burning, dull, achy, or throbbing.
For some people, pain comes and goes. They experience certain activities that may worsen the pain, while rest may provide relief. Other symptoms include:
- Bruising
- Swelling or abnormal appearance at the site of injury, which is more likely with fractures and dislocations
- Joint stiffness and limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty in using a limb or putting weight on it
- Numbness, tingling or weakness
- Redness at the site of injury
- Increased temperature at the site of injury
Some symptoms that may indicate a serious condition are:
- Severe sports injuries like fractures and dislocations. These often cause complications and require immediate medical help.
- Deformity or lump on the injured joint or bone.
- Inability to move a joint.
- An open wound on the skin.
- Severe pain or swelling.
- Hearing a grinding, snapping, or popping sound during the injury.
Diseases that Sports Specialists or Orthopaedic Surgeons treat:
Arthroscopy is particularly useful for sports injuries because it allows for a faster recovery time and less post-operative pain compared to traditional open surgery. Sports injuries treated with arthroscopy include:
- ACL Tears: ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a major ligament located in the knee joint. ACL tear occurs due to sudden twisting or changing direction in the knee.
- Meniscal Tears: The meniscus is a rubber-like cartilage in the knee, acting as a shock absorber. Meniscal tears occur when the meniscus is damaged or torn due to excessive pressure or twisting of the knee joint.
- Shoulder Dislocations: Shoulder dislocations may occur when the humerus (upper arm bone) slips out of the shoulder socket. A fall, blow, or sudden jerking motion often causes this injury.
- Rotator Cuff Tears: The rotator cuff comprises tendons and muscles attaching the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone. Rotator cuff tears occur when these tendons are torn or damaged due to overuse, ageing, or injury.
- Tennis Elbow: An overuse injury, it affects the tendons in the elbow joint, causing pain and tenderness in the outer part of the elbow. Tennis elbow makes it difficult to grip objects.
- Ankle Sprains: Ankle sprains occur when ligaments in the ankle joint are torn or stretched due to a sudden twist or turn. This injury is common in athletes and can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty walking.
- Fractures: A fracture is a broken bone that can occur in any part of the body. In sports, fractures are often caused by a direct blow or fall and can lead to swelling, pain and difficulty moving the affected area.
The various responsibilities of a sports injury specialist include the following:
- Diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries
- Treating musculoskeletal pain
- Creating a personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan
- Preventive care to lower the chance of injury
- Coordinating support when required, such as with nutritionists, physical therapists, hand therapists and others
- Regular evaluation and review of a patient's condition or injury
- Providing or recommending therapeutic modalities
- Patient Education
When to see an Orthopaedic surgeons or sports injury specialists?
Orthopaedic surgeons or sports injury specialists are consulted when a person suffers a sports-related injury. Other reasons may be improving performance and fitness, routine checks ups or guidance regarding using safety gear for specific joints.
Sports medicine physicians initially provided high-quality and speciality medical care for professional athletes. However, nowadays, they help all individuals who:
- Have a sports- or exercise-related injury
- Wish to enhance their performance in their sport or activity of choice
- Wish to improve their overall fitness level
- Want to prevent sports-related injuries
- Wish to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle
The common injuries that a sports medicine physician treats are:
- Shoulder injuries like a torn rotator cuff
- Knee injuries like torn ACL, PCL, or meniscus
- Ankle injuries such as sprains, strains, or instability
- Fractures
- Elbow injuries like golfer's elbow, pitcher's elbow, and tennis elbow
- Dislocated joints
Diagnosis
Doctors diagnose joint injuries and related diseases by recording a thorough medical history, followed by a physical examination and, finally, X-rays or diagnostic tests to view the joint anatomy. In addition, tests like an MRI or CT also scan may also be advised.
If the above tests prove insufficient in diagnosing a case, a final diagnosis is made using the arthroscope. Arthroscopic diagnosis is more accurate and preferred over open surgery or X-rays. The arthroscope shows nearly all joints but is commonly employed for studying the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle, wrist and hip.
Why Choose Max Healthcare?
We are committed to providing comprehensive care using the latest technology and techniques for patients. Our team of orthopaedic surgeons is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating sports injuries. We use arthroscopy to provide minimally invasive and targeted treatment options.
We understand that sports injuries can be both physically and emotionally challenging. That's why we offer comprehensive care, including rehabilitation and physical therapy, to ensure a full and speedy recovery.
If you suffer from a sports injury, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced orthopaedic surgeons. We will work with you to create a personalised treatment plan that meeting your unique needs and helps you get back to your active lifestyle.
Review
Reviewed by Dr. Vikas Gupta, Director, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Arthroscopy & Sports Injury.
Our Medical Experts
Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
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