Knee Trauma Paper

Background: 23 year-old male Division I football athlete presented with gross swelling to the left knee. He was in extreme pain and reported to the Athletic Trainer that he believed that his leg was broken; no obvious deformity was present. Subject had never sustained a traumatic injury and had no previous or current medical conditions. Subject was removed from the field and further evaluated by the Athletic Trainer. Mechanism of injury was unknown and due to the severity of pain the subject was transported to the visiting team’s athletic training facility where radiographs were conducted. Differential Diagnosis: Tibia Fracture; Fibula Fracture; Knee Dislocation; ACL/PCL Sprain. Treatment: Radiographs were negative. Subject was immobilized …show more content…
During the procedure there was no noted meniscal damage, however, the LCL was completely detached and impeding the popliteus muscle. Subject is currently undergoing LCL reconstruction rehabilitation protocol and furthermore increasing quadriceps strength prior to second surgical procedure. The second surgical procedure will be performed approximately eight weeks after the previous procedure to reconstruct the ACL and possibly the PCL. Uniqueness: Upon review of the game film, it was apparent the subject’s left knee was dislocated and self-reduced on the field. A knee dislocation is rare due to the ligamentous support structure and strong musculature surrounding the joint. Trauma to the LCL can be extensive but in this case it is believed that the entrapment of the LCL in the popliteus resulted from the self-reduction of the knee. The MRI indicated a substantial posterolateral corner injury, which is atypical because posterolateral damage is often unnoticed via MRI. The repair graft of the LCL was unique in that a cadaver posterior tibial tendon was chosen over a hamstring tendon or autograph. Conclusion: Overall the case presented atypical of a knee