Cartilage and ligamentous lesions of the knee in athletes

Abstract

fest. Appropriate surgery was carried out as soon as possibfe. Usually in each footbaff season there are about four knee cartilage type injuries which require surgery. Such severe ligament injuries are uncommon. In the past five years there have been thirty-three knee cartifage type injuries which came to operation. Tabfe I gives the preoperative diagnosis and the pathologic condition found. The frequency of infrapatelfar fat pad, anterior cruciate figament and pateffar damage which accompanies these “internal derangements” is worthy of emphasis. It is important to examine the interior of the joint thoroughly at operation. This can be done through a small incision paraflefing the pateflar tendon and extending proximally only when it is necessary to smooth the patella. Table II ilfustrates the more exact diagnosis that is possible when the symptoms and signs do not suggest mere1.y a “mesial meniscus damage.” The great bulk of the thirty-three injuries were sustained by footbalf pIayers. About eight occurred in wrestlers, lacrosse players and other active athletes. Over one-fourth of the victims had had some “trouble” with the knee in high SChOOI. The problem is handled as follows in the typical football knee injury. After each knee injury, whether mild or severe, rest and physiotherapy are usecl until the joint becomes quiet. Crutches are urged but are dificult to enforce