Week 2 - Acute Joint Injuries

Question 1

What are the possible components of a joint injury?

Answer 1

Traumatic ligament, meniscal, labral, cartilage, and bone damage

Question 2

What’s the difference and terms for fluid build up following a joint injury?

Answer 2

1. Effusion - small amount of fluid build up, may be caused by a meniscal tear
2. Haemathrosis - large amount of fluid, usually fluid includes blood, common following an ACL injury

Question 3

What is and can cause an acute articular cartilage injury?

Answer 3

Chondral (and osteochondral) fragments being chipped off articular surfaces cause by large shearing forces, now detectable by MRI

Question 4

What is a surgical method of repairing minor acute articular cartilage injuries?

Answer 4

Micro-fracturing. A type of arthroscopic surgery, making tiny fractures in the exposed bone to increase vascular supply to the surface to promote new growth of the cartilage

Question 5

What is a surgical method to repair larger acute articular cartilage injuries?

Answer 5

Mosaicplasty - type of arthroscopic surgery where they take a core or plug of bone from a non-weight bearing part of the knee and drill it in to where the defect is

Question 6

What type of common dislocation at the knee joint is connected with acute osteochondral fractures?

Answer 6

Patellar dislocations, shear forces can cause this type of injury. Incidence can be between 40% - 78%