DJO Orthopaedic Update 29th March 2007

John B. King, F.R.C.S., FFSEM (UK), F.I.S.M., M.B.B.S., L.R.C.P, eminent orthopaedic consultant, specialist knee surgeon, and key speaker at DJO’s first Orthopaedic Update Press Briefing, which focussed on the knee, explains: “There is an epidemic of sports injury, particularly injury to the knee, probably the result of the growing trend for extreme sports, the general Government-led healthy lifestyle push and an expectation of good health. While injuries to high profile professional sports people make the headlines those individuals are financially secure; we must consider the great numbers who are injured and for whom the impact may create an intolerable financial burden. We need the twin activities of research into causation and management of injury and education about the impact of a knee injury – how knees can be damaged, how to best avoid injury, the treatment options available and rehabilitation of the damaged knee.  Without appropriate medical care, a knee injury can affect the rest of a person’s life – it is, after all, the most complex joint in the human body and we should look after it.  Ahead of major sporting events such as the Cricket and Rugby World Cups, the London Marathon, and build up to Britain hosting the Olympic Games, this is a prime time to focus on this subject.  DJO’s series of ‘Orthopaedic Updates’, this being the first, is a welcome effort towards building the consumer’s awareness of, on this occasion, knee health.”  

John King is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery to the St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary College and Honorary Consultant in Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery to the Royal London Hospital. He practises at the London Independent Hospital. 

                                                               ‘KNEED TO KNOW’ KNEE FACTS:

Did you know…?

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury is frequently associated with sport e.g. soccer and skiing? Data for USA for 1995 show: 147,000 anterior cruciate ligament procedures (Reference. Medical Data International, 1997)

nearly everyone will complain of a ‘bad knee’ at sometime in his or her life through injury or osteoarthritis?

feale athletes are up to eight times more likely to suffer knee injuries during their careers than males?

that we are born without a kneecap - babies have no knees until they are two to six years old?

this year the number of Britons over 65 will exceed those aged under 16 for the first time, as the post WWII baby boomers start to reach retirement age?

(according to the Arthritis Foundation website) over 775,000 children in the US are treated in A&E for sports related injuries each year?  And…

around two thirds of these injuries are strains and sprains?

a strain is a muscular injury, and a sprain is a ligament injury?

Knee and hip osteoarthritis affects 10-20% of people aged over 65.

8 million people in the UK are affected of which 1 million of these ask for treatment. (ARC)

Definitions:

Knee
In human anatomy, the knee is the lower extremity joint connecting the femur and the tibia.

Ligament
A strong, flexible connective tissue band usually found between two bony prominences.

Tendon
Tissue attaching a muscle to other body parts, usually bones, to transmit the mechanical force of muscle contraction to the other part.

Femur
The femur or thighbone is the longest, most voluminous, and strongest bone of the human body. It forms part of the hip and part of the knee.

Tibia
The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in humans and other vertebrates.

Patella
A flat triangular bone located at the front of the knee joint. Also called kneecap.