| Knee ligament injuries are common. Two wheeler | | | | >R-Rest |
| accidents are the commonest cause of knee ligament | | | | I- Ice |
| injuries in India, unlike the developed countries where | | | | C- Compression or Crepe bandage |
| participation in sports is the main cause. The roads of | | | | E- Elevation. |
| the cities are congested with two wheelers. With the | | | | D-Consult your Knee surgeon (doctor) if in pain. He |
| corporation digging up roads for sewage works, road | | | | may relieve you of pain by aspirating the blood from |
| widening, there are too many hazards for them as | | | | within the joint. Exercise of the thigh muscles is |
| they have to weave through traffic, pedestrians, | | | | suggested. |
| autos, animals and dug up roads. At times an | | | | Surgical treatment |
| unexpected object or animal comes across and in | | | | If you are young and play sport or if you develop |
| order to avoid a collision, the motor cyclist brakes | | | | symptoms of giving way of the knee then the |
| suddenly and can injure himself. As the vehicle comes | | | | ligament injury needs to be surgically treated. |
| to a sudden halt, in order to balance himself, he | | | | Repeated episodes of giving way can cause damage |
| plants his leg on the ground, or may loose his balance | | | | of the menisci. Surgical treatment is called an ACL |
| and fall over, sustaining a blow to his shoulder. After | | | | Reconstruction. It is best done after a short interval |
| his foot is planted on the ground, due to the inertia, | | | | to allow the swelling to settle down. If treated early |
| the vehicle and the rest of the body are carried | | | | tears of the menisci can be repaired with |
| forward and thus occur a twisting injury to the knee | | | | arthroscopic assistance. Many orthopaedic surgeons |
| joint. The menisci and ligaments of the knee are also | | | | excise the torn portion of the meniscus, but this may |
| often injured simultaneously. | | | | not be the best option. The best is to suture the |
| Symptoms of the injury | | | | meniscus if it is in a suitable site. Therefore the best |
| 1. The person may hear a popping or snapping sound | | | | time for an examination and surgical reconstruction is |
| in his knee. He is unable to stand up and balance | | | | after three weeks, when the swelling has settled |
| himself. | | | | down and chances of success of repair of the |
| 2. Swelling may develop rapidly and this is due to | | | | semilunar cartilages are high. |
| accumulation of blood inside the joint (Haemarthrosis). | | | | ACL reconstruction can be done with the assistance |
| This indicates a rupture of the knee ligaments, | | | | of the arthroscopy or by an open operation. There is |
| commonly the anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL). | | | | no age limit for this procedure. The advantages of an |
| Later the swelling subsides, but the ligaments do not | | | | arthroscopic method are that the incision is smaller, |
| heal. This is particularly true of the anterior cruciate | | | | and the sites of fixation of the graft can be |
| ligament (ACL). | | | | accurately visualized. Donor tissues can be harvested |
| 3. Giving away of the knee becomes a recurring | | | | from the patient's own neighboring tissues or can be |
| complaint. During one of these episodes, one of the | | | | from a cadaver. Following the surgery, the patient |
| menisci (semi lunar cartilages) may get caught | | | | has to undergo a rehabilitation process. Eventually |
| between the femur and tibia and may tear. This | | | | they can return to sport by the end of six months. |
| complicates matters as a bucket handle tear of the | | | | Conservative treatment methods like prolonged |
| meniscus can lead to further episodes of giving away. | | | | immobilization, bracing are not effective in healing of |
| This combination of injuries leads to instability and | | | | the ligament or restoring stability. |
| degenerative changes. Articular cartilage injuries can | | | | Prevention: |
| occur at the time of accident and may need | | | | Adhere to lane discipline. |
| attention. You can develop early arthritis of the knee | | | | Avoid attending mobile calls when driving. |
| by the age of forty. | | | | Do not over speed. |
| Treatment: | | | | Two wheelers should stick to the left lane of the |
| First aid | | | | road. |
| When there is swelling, the RICE method helps | | | | |