Sports Medicine Library

Why ACL grafts can tear again, and how tibial slope, varus or valgus alignment, tunnels and meniscal function guide osteotomy and staged revision decisions.

Functional patella alta, X-ray and MRI measurements, research thresholds for PHI and SPE, and their relationship to engagement, instability, anterior knee pain and treatment decisions.

How ultrasound, MRI and X-rays contribute to preoperative assessment of massive cuff tears, and how retraction, atrophy and fatty infiltration influence repairability and treatment choices.

How meniscal tears and synovitis are related, current evidence on repair and partial meniscectomy outcomes, and considerations for preoperative care, synovial treatment, osteoarthritis and postoperative effusions.

Benefits and limitations of quadriceps tendon ACL grafts, comparisons with hamstring and bone–patellar tendon–bone grafts, bone-block and all-soft-tissue options, and recovery of knee extension strength, running and sport.

Wound care, ice, brace use and staged rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair, including exercises starting in weeks 1, 5 and 13 and the external rotation restriction after an accompanying subscapularis tendon repair.

Wound care, brace use, range-of-motion exercises and strengthening after shoulder debridement, capsular release and acromioplasty, with procedure-specific starting times and rehabilitation schedules.

Rehabilitation after pectoralis major tendon repair: wound care, icing, brace use, staged movement and strengthening exercises, and return to sport.

Rehabilitation after acromioclavicular joint reconstruction: wound care, icing, brace use, staged movement and strengthening exercises, and return to sport.

Treatment for combined ACL and MCL injuries depends on MCL grade, tear location, residual valgus laxity, sport demands, and ACL reconstruction timing.

Superior capsular reconstruction uses fascia lata or another graft to restore superior shoulder stability, offering a joint-preserving option for selected patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears and limited arthritis.

Chronic ankle instability involves ligament laxity, proprioception, muscle reaction time, and balance control; treatment should combine structured rehabilitation with individualized repair, augmentation, or reconstruction.

Hip snapping that repeatedly occurs with pain, restricted motion, or reduced sport function should be assessed by type and cause; hip arthroscopy may help selected patients whose symptoms persist despite structured conservative care.

A staged guide to wound care, icing, brace use, pendulum exercises, shoulder blade control, range of motion and strengthening after surgery for shoulder instability.

UKA often gives faster early recovery, while HTO has distinct value in alignment correction and range of motion. The final choice depends on pain, varus source, cartilage involvement, ligament stability, age, and long-term activity goals.

Medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis does not always require total knee replacement. HTO corrects alignment and preserves the native joint; UKA resurfaces the worn compartment.

Latarjet outcomes depend on fixation method, bone block position, Hill-Sachs management, rehabilitation, and risk control. Screw fixation, elastic fixation, arthroscopy, and Eden-Hybbinette each have specific roles.

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation can progressively damage the labrum, capsule, and glenoid bone. Latarjet is an important stabilizing option for patients with glenoid bone loss, high recurrence risk, or failed Bankart repair.

Choosing among transtibial fixation, anchor fixation, centralization, and high tibial osteotomy requires assessment of tear morphology, extrusion, cartilage degeneration, varus alignment, and rehabilitation demands.

Medial meniscus posterior root tears may be overlooked but can accelerate medial knee degeneration. Treatment depends on repairability, cartilage wear, varus alignment, meniscal extrusion, and fixation method.

After an ACL tear, prolonged knee instability may increase stress on the meniscus and cartilage. Treatment decisions in adolescents should account for physeal status, meniscal reparability, knee stability, and return-to-sport goals.

In children and adolescents, ACL injury patterns change as the skeleton matures. Younger children more often have tibial eminence or tibial insertion avulsion injuries, while midsubstance ACL tears and meniscal injuries become more common during adolescence.

Under standardized conditions, the overall safety of intra-articular MSC injection is good, and serious adverse events are relatively uncommon. Common reactions are mostly transient knee pain, swelling, stiffness, or fever.

There is currently no fixed treatment course suitable for all patients. Relevant 2026 clinical recommendations state that one intra-articular MSC injection per year may be considered, but the evidence level is B and the recommendation strength is weak.

For intra-articular mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) injection in knee osteoarthritis, the evidence is stronger for adults with early-to-middle stage disease, especially imaging KL grade I to III disease with persistent pain and activity limitation after standard basic treatment, exercise rehabilitation, or routine medication.

Intra-articular mesenchymal stem/stromal cell injection may reduce pain and improve function in selected patients with early-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, but it does not replace rehabilitation, weight management, or careful assessment for knee replacement in advanced disease.

During revision ACL reconstruction, graft choice is influenced by the tissue used in the first operation, the previous bone tunnels, and the overall condition of the knee. For patients who have already used their own hamstring tendon, the quadriceps tendon or a quadriceps tendon-bone graft may be one autograft option.

When an ACL graft tears again after reconstruction, the femoral and tibial bone tunnels from the first operation can affect where and how a new graft is placed and fixed. Three-dimensional CT helps evaluate tunnel position, size, and bone loss before revision surgery.

Revision ACL reconstruction may be performed in one stage or two. The choice depends on the position and widening of the previous bone tunnels, bone loss, knee stability, and other risk factors for another failure, with three-dimensional CT playing a central role in preoperative planning.

An ACL graft retear requires a systematic assessment of the cause of failure, previous bone tunnels, graft, knee stability, menisci, cartilage, and lower-limb alignment before choosing one-stage or two-stage revision reconstruction and planning the graft and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty must balance wound care, implant protection, recovery of motion, and progressive deltoid and periscapular training. This illustrated guide explains common exercises and safety precautions from the first postoperative week through week 12 and beyond.

Both remnant-preserving single-bundle and double-bundle ACL reconstruction can improve knee function. Everyday recovery is broadly similar; double-bundle reconstruction may offer an advantage in rotational stability and return to high-intensity sport.

Hip instability is diagnosed by combining history, physical examination, and imaging; treatment depends on the cause, severity, and structural findings.

Recurrent groin or deep hip pain without a clear explanation may warrant assessment for hip instability.

Black phosphorus nanomaterials show preclinical potential to support bone mineralization, improve the repair microenvironment, protect cartilage, and help address implant-related infection.

A practical guide to common ACL injury symptoms, including a popping sensation, rapid swelling, knee instability, and why MRI is often needed.

An ACL tear does not automatically mean surgery is required. Treatment depends on knee stability, activity goals, associated injuries, and commitment to rehabilitation.

ACL reconstruction should not be rushed while the knee is swollen and stiff, but delaying too long may increase the risk of meniscus and cartilage injury.

ACL reconstruction uses a graft to create a new stabilizing ligament. Autograft, allograft, and synthetic ligaments each have different roles, and the best choice depends on age, sport goals, work demands, and knee condition.

Recovery after ACL reconstruction depends on more than time. Walking, running, and return to sport should be guided by range of motion, strength, swelling, balance, movement control, and confidence.