The Most Advanced Care
UT Southwestern sports
medicine specialists offer advanced treatments, including platelet-rich plasma
injections, the anatomic approach to ACL reconstruction, and carefully designed
injury prevention programs to strengthen a patient’s knees and lower legs.
We work closely with
patients to develop individualized treatment plans.
Our experts treat all
sports-related knee and leg injuries, such as:
- Anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
- Anterior knee
mechanism injuries such as quadriceps tendonitis and patellar tendonitis
(basketball)
- Knee
dislocation
- Knee ligament or
ankle sprains
- Medial
collateral ligament (MCL) injury
- Runner’s knee
- Stress factors
in the lower leg or fibula (figure-skating injuries)
Symptoms
Symptoms of sports-related
knee and lower leg injuries and disorders include:
- Bruising or
tenderness
- Catching or
locking of the knee
- Difficulty
walking due to instability
- Loss of full
range of motion
- Knee swelling
or stiffness
- Knee pain,
especially at the sides of the knee; pain on the inside of the knee might be an
MCL injury; pain on the outside of the knee could mean a lateral collateral
ligament (LCL) injury
- Popping or
crackling sounds in the knee
Diagnosis
Our specialists can often
diagnose the cause of knee injury or lower leg injury by studying a patient’s
medical history and conducting a physical exam. Sometimes, as with a torn MCL
or ACL, the doctor might order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a better look at the ligament.
For recreational athletes or
weekend warriors, we might recommend physical therapy or rehabilitation before
an MRI because the goal is to heal the lower leg or knee before surgery is
required. Often, rehabilitation is enough to heal the knee or leg.
Treatments
Our specialists offer safe,
effective treatments focused on reducing downtime and helping patients achieve their
long-term performance goals. When establishing a treatment plan, we always
consider the knee or leg injury, the patient’s objectives, and the full
spectrum of treatment options available.
Whenever possible, our
team offers nonsurgical treatments before recommending surgery. These
treatments include:
- ACL injury-prevention programs teach athletes how to incorporate normal exercise
into their routine to strengthen the ACL. In addition, our program instructs
patients how to jump and land in ways that decrease the chance of an ACL
injury.
- Casting and functional bracing for fractures or severe sprains provide additional
support.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation programs are designed with the athlete’s
physiology, athletic goals, and injury history in mind.
- Platelet-rich plasma injections, in which platelets from the patient’s own blood
are injected into the injured knee or leg tissue, can speed healing. The
platelets release growth factors into the injured ligament, tendon, or joint,
promoting new cell growth and regeneration.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Knee and Lower Leg
Our sports medicine
specialists are trained to recognize patients who would benefit most from
surgery. Our doctors are experts in minimally invasive surgery, including
arthroscopic, mini-open, and open approaches.
In arthroscopic surgery, a
small camera is inserted into a tiny incision in the leg. The camera allows the
doctor to view the joint and reconstruct it using small surgical instruments.
Our expertise in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery can often decrease
a patient’s recovery time from several weeks to mere days.
We also offer the anatomic
approach to ACL reconstruction. In this procedure, the surgeon reconstructs the
ACL in its natural placement, resulting in positive outcomes for patients
undergoing ligament reconstruction surgery.
Following surgery, our intensive physical
therapy programs help strengthen the knee or lower leg and get the patient back
to competition quickly.