oa South African Journal of Sports Medicine - Fractures around the knee joint

Abstract

Fractures around the knee joint are serious in sportsmen because: 1 The knee is a weightbearing joint. 2. The articular surfaces are often involved. 3. Fractures demand an initial period of immobilization to heal. 4. Restoration of mobility is slow and full range of movement is hardly ever achieved. 5. The athlete is unlikely to reach his previous performance level and may have to abandon running sports altogether 6. Damage to articular surfaces may lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis in later years.