Evaluation of knee injury

A 2008 study stated that the most common musculoskeletal tendinous and ligamentous injuries were knee injuries.[1]Clayton RA, Court-Brown CM. The epidemiology of musculoskeletal tendinous and ligamentous injuries. Injury. 2008;39:1338-1344. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19036362?tool=bestpractice.com Although, during athletic activities, there are varied incidences of joint injuries, in activities such as skiing, snowboarding, other winter Olympic sports, wakeboarding, spinning, soccer, and military training, knee injuries are consistently among the most reported injuries.[2]Hansom D, Sutherland A. Injury prevention strategies in skiers and snowboarders. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9:169-175. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20463501?tool=bestpractice.com [3]Hauret KG, Jones BH, Bullock SH, et al. Musculoskeletal injuries: description of an under-recognized injury problem among military personnel. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(1 Suppl):S61-S70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20117601?tool=bestpractice.com [4]Engebretsen L, Steffen K, Alonso JM, et al. Sports injuries and illnesses during the Winter Olympic Games 2010. Br J Sports Med. 2010;44:772-780. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20820057?tool=bestpractice.com [5]Patzer T, Hrabal SA, Timmesfeld N, et al. Incidence and mechanism of injuries in cable-wakeboarding: a prospective study [in German]. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2009;23:141-147. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19750442?tool=bestpractice.com [6]Taanila H, Suni J, Pihlajamäki H, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders in physically active conscripts: a one-year follow-up study in the Finnish Defence Forces. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009;10:89. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/10/89 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19624829?tool=bestpractice.com [7]Lubetzky-Vilnai A, Carmeli E, Katz-Leurer M. Prevalence of injuries among young adults in sport centers: relation to the type and pattern of activity. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009;19:828-833. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19508649?tool=bestpractice.com [8]Gaulrapp H, Becker A, Walther M, et al. Injuries in women's soccer: a 1-year all players prospective field study of the women's Bundesliga (German premier league). Clin J Sport Med. 2010;20:264-271. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20606511?tool=bestpractice.com Many knee injuries can be treated conservatively with rest, ice, immobilization, and physical therapy. However, other knee injuries will require surgical intervention. These procedures are, for the most part, relatively low-risk surgeries and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Acute knee injuries

Acute knee injuries are a new-onset disease process or new injury. By most definitions, acute knee injuries are defined as being diagnosed within the first 30 to 42 days of the injury or onset of symptoms.

Chronic knee injuries

Chronic knee injuries are due to residual old trauma or surgery, existing degenerative diseases, or previous conditions not resolved within the first 30 to 42 days after the onset.