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Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a serious injury that commonly occurs in sports such as AFL football, soccer, netball and basketball. The ACL is a major stabiliser of the knee that stops the tibia sliding forward on the femur. Most patients who have torn their ACL are unable to participate in sports that require pivoting movements or sudden changes of direction, and some patients will experience a feeling of “giving way” even during normal activities such as walking or climbing stairs. Mr Barnes performs ACL reconstruction using an arthroscopic or keyhole technique that allows patients to go home the first day after surgery.
The meniscus is a semi-circular shaped cartilage that acts as cushion between the joint surfaces of the knee. The meniscus also helps to stabilise the knee and may be torn after a twisting injury. Patients may present with symptoms such as pain or “catching”, and in severe cases episodes of giving way or locking. Knee arthroscopy may be required in such cases to shave back the tear and provide symptom relief. Young athletes with “buckethandle” type tears may be amenable to repair with stitches, especially where there is an associated ligament injury. At your appointment Mr Barnes will discuss all your surgical options in detail.
Femoro-Acetabular Impingement (FAI) occurs in young, active adults due to abnormal contact between the bones of the hip joint. Patients experience groin pain which is often associated with tears of the labrum, a special soft tissue structure that protects the hip from injury. FAI most commonly occurs due to a bony overgrowth on the femoral neck or pelvis. If standard treatments such as physiotherapy and anti-inflammatories have not worked, surgery may be required to improve the function of your hip. At your appointment Mr Barnes will discuss the possibility of hip arthroscopy to remove excess bone and repair the labrum.
The cartilage layer on the ends of bone is an important structure that enables the smooth, frictionless movement required for joints to function normally. Cartilage injury of the knee or hip can be devastating when it leads to early arthritis, with patients suffering severe symptoms such as pain and stiffness. Mr Barnes will discuss treatment options for this condition which may include drilling of the bone, reattachment of the cartilage or in some cases reimplantation of cartilage cells from another part of the affected joint.
Soft tissue conditions of the shoulder are common and may include bursitis, rotator cuff tears and dislocation. Subacromial bursitis may occur due to a bony spur which irritates the bursa and causes pain when patients perform overhead activities. Shoulder arthroscopy may be recommended to shave away the spur and remove inflamed bursa. At the same time the rotator cuff tendon can be examined for tears and repaired with anchors if required. Recurrent dislocation of the shoulder may occur in young, active patients when they place their shoulder in a certain position. Often it is difficult to participate in certain sports or activites due to the risk of another dislocation, and surgery may be recommended to stabilise the shoulder. Mr Barnes will discuss a range of options with you including arthroscopic (keyhole) procedures.
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