Unfortunately, every sports participant at every level of every game is at risk of injury. The knee joint is particularly vulnerable in certain sports such as rugby and netball. Your injury may involve one or more structures, some of which will heal without surgery.
Close examination of your knee with X-rays (and often an MRI) will help Dr Ward decide how best to treat your injury. This may involve using a brace as well as crutches for a period of time, followed by rehabilitation as required.
Arthroscopic treatment
A knee arthroscopy is a common surgical procedure that usually involves two small incisions at the front of your knee. A camera is then introduced into the joint.
As a knee specialist, Dr Ward can undertake a number of surgical procedures to treat different parts of the knee.
- the cartilage (the shiny covering of your bone ends) and meniscus (C-shaped shock absorber between your bones) can be debrided (trimmed) if they have loose torn parts
- depending on the location and configuration of meniscal tears (as well as some patient related factors) repair may be able to be performed
- cartilage and bone flakes are sometimes repairable, or they may need to be treated with alternative techniques
- torn ligaments may need to be repaired or reconstructed, depending on which ligament is involved
Post operative restrictions and rehabilitation will vary depending on which structure is repaired/reconstructed. You will be given comprehensive, easy-to-follow information on these aspects of your treatment during your visit to Dr Ward’s clinic.