Sports injury surgery : Specialists

Introduction to sports injuries

Injuries are an accepted part of an athlete’s life. Professional sportspeople, for example footballers, are prone to a wide range of injuries which are usually a result of overuse or an awkward movement. There are two types of sports injury:

• Acute
• Chronic

Acute injuries occur from a traumatic movement such as turning or twisting suddenly. An example of this is a twisted ankle during a game of football.

Chronic injuries develop over time and are usually a result of repetitive movement or using the same muscles repeatedly. An example of this is a knee injury from continually running on hard surfaces.

These types of injuries are dealt with by either a sports injury specialist or an orthopaedic surgeon who has trained in sports medicine.

What is a sports injury surgeon?

This will be an orthopaedic surgeon who has chosen to specialise in surgical sports medicine and has undergone a period of further training. He/she will diagnose and treat a vast range of injuries caused by all manner of sporting activities.

What does a sports injury surgeon do?

He or she will operate on a wide range of sports injuries which include:

• Torn cartilage
• Ruptured Achilles tendon
• Torn anterior cruciate ligament
• Torn hamstring
• Plantar fasciitis
• Hernia