7 Common Questions and Answers About Knee Injuries from Louisville Orthopedic Surgeon

1. What are the two most common sports-related knee injuries that require surgery? 

The two most common knee injuries that occur following a sports injury that require surgery are a meniscal tear and an acl tear.

2. What are the main causes of the ACL injury?

There is much scientific debate over the cause of an ACL injury. In order for the anterior cruciate ligament to tear, the tibia (lower leg bone/ shin) must shift forward to (more…)

Louisville Orthopedic Surgeon Explains Management of Midseason Traumatic Shoulder Dislocations in Athletes

shoulder dislocation from contact sports like hockeyWhat do you do if your shoulder dislocates in the middle of a competitive season? Does a shoulder dislocation mean you cannot compete the rest of the season?

The August 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons included an excellent review article outlining a treatment plan and a return to sport plan if an athlete dislocates their shoulder in the middle of a competitive season.  Dr. Owens et al. presented an algorithm that outlines the treatment plan.

(more…)

Don’t Let A Running Injury Put You On The Sidelines – Advice From A Louisville Orthopedic

runners starting a raceMaybe you are running for a cross country team or are training for one of the fall running races coming up in Louisville, Kentucky. You might just be a casual weekend jogger who likes spending time outside in one of Louisville’s beautiful parks, enjoying the benefits of a three mile run once or twice a week. Whether you are a competitive runner, or someone who avoids the races and prefers running for casual exercise, chances are at one time or another you have experienced a running injury.

(more…)

Knee Popping During Injury – 5 Possible Causes

I was running when I got injured and heard a knee popping sound. What could it be?

If you heard a knee popping sound during injury, there are a number of things it could be. Five possible causes of knee popping including the following:

1. ACL Tear
The ACL is the major ligament in the knee that provides anterior and rotatory stability to the knee. If at the time of injury a pop is heard, swelling occurs within 12 hours and the athlete is unable to finish playing the game there is an 85% chance that the ACL was torn.

(more…)

10 Facts About Stress Fractures

Common Running Injury - Stress Fractures1. Most stress fractures occur secondary to overuse.  If the person has normal bone strength, a stress fracture will occur from too much use. If a person has weak bones or osteoporosis then a stress fracture can occur from normal use.

Normal Bone = Stress Fractures = Overuse

Osteoporotic Bone/ Osteopenia = Stress Fractures = Normal Use

2. Pain occurs with increasing amounts of activity. Pain is typically minimal when getting out of bed first thing in the morning but then worsens as the day progresses.

3. Stress fractures most commonly occur in the metatarsals of the feet.

(more…)

Smoking and Orthopaedics

Did you know that when you smoke that you are inhaling over 60 different carcinogens and 5000 chemical agents? Your lungs are being filled similar chemicals that are found in lighter fluid, batteries, insecticide, and toilet bowl cleaner, rocket fuel, poison, sewer gas, industrial solvents and paint. These chemicals include: butane, cadmium, hexamine, toluene, nicotine, ammonia, methanol, arsenic, methane and nicotine just to name a few.

Cigarette smoking is very detrimental if you have an orthopaedic condition in addition to causing orthopaedic injuries and conditions such as rotator cuff tears, delay in bone healing and post-surgery wound problems, just to name a few.

(more…)