Sports Injury
Participating in various sports and exercises is good for one’s health. However, accidents,
insufficient warm-ups, poor conditioning and improper gear may lead to sport injuries. Treatments for
sports injuries range from mild, requiring only rest, ice therapy or some medication; to serious,
requiring physiotherapy or even sports surgery. Nonetheless, it is still important to take preventive actions that minimise the risk of a sports injury from happening.
Achilles Tendinitis – Achilles tendinitis occurs due to the overuse of or sustained
injury to the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It can also be
caused by degeneration due to age and time.
Plantar Fasciitis – Characterized by a sharp pain under the heel, plantar fasciitis
occurs when the fibrous tissues extending from the heel to the toe, called fascia, become strained
and inflamed due to stress, overstretching and strenuous exercises.
Stress Fractures – Stress fractures, which are small cracks in the bone, occur when
there is repetitive force exerted on the bones of the feet or ankles, and the muscles are unable to
absorb or cushion the impact. It is caused by strenuous activities that exert too much pressure on
the weight-bearing bones of the body, as well as factors such as poor conditioning and use of
improper equipment.
Ankle Sprain – An ankle sprain happens when the foot is twisted in such a way that the joint becomes dislocated from its socket. This causes the ligaments around the ankle to be damaged, stretched or torn, resulting in swelling, bruising, and discomfort or pain. Ankle sprains are often caused by the prolonged use of inappropriate footwear, walking on rough or uneven terrain, and extreme sports.
Common procedures include:
Arthroscopy for Knees, Ankles & Shoulders – This keyhole procedure involves making small incisions
in the skin and inserting a lighted, optical probe, allowing the sports surgeon to examine the affected area
thoroughly. It can be used in the diagnosis or treatment of an injury. Arthroscopy is the preferred
method to treat tendon tears, inflamed joint linings, carpal tunnel syndrome, and loose cartilage
and bones. It is minimally invasive, thus allowing for less scarring and quicker recovery.
Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) – This procedure is designed to fix serious fractures or
breakages by first realigning the bone back to its original position via open surgery, then fixing
it in place using steel rods, screws or plates. The hardware can either be permanent or removed
during the healing process. Because of the nature of the procedure, recovery takes a longer time and
often involves pain management, physiotherapy and medications.
ACL Reconstruction – For this procedure, the damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is removed and
replaced with a tendon graft. The replacement tissue is usually obtained from another area of the
knee or from a deceased donor. ACL reconstruction is often followed by a series of rehabilitative
therapy to bring stability and restore function to the knee.
Meniscal Repair & Meniscectomy – A meniscectomy is the procedure to remove part or all of the meniscus, the
cartilage between the femur and tibia. In some cases, meniscus tear may be repaired by stitching the torn
pieces of the meniscus back together. Both meniscectomy and tear repairs are done via arthroscopy.
Broström Procedure – This procedure is performed to address damages in the ligaments of the lateral
ankle, specifically the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL). The aim of the operation is to tighten
the problematic ligament to return stability to the ankle. This is done by first removing the
ligament and cutting or stitching them to make them shorter, then reattaching the ligament back in
place. Tissue grafts may also be applied to further add strength to the ankle.
Open, Mini-Open and All-Arthroscopic Repair – Shoulder sports injuries, including SLAP (superior
labral tear from anterior to posterior) tears, rotator cuff tendinitis and dislocations may be done
via traditional open methods, keyhole surgery, or a combination of both techniques, depending on the
size and severity of the injury. In all procedures, the aim is to remove bone spurs and repair
tendon damage to restore mobility in the shoulders.
