Traumatic hemerthrosis of the kneee during sports in semi-professional athletes

Introduction

The aim of this study is to register the causes of traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee in semi-professional athletes during sports and to evaluate the treatment

Methods

Between 1999-2000, we treated thirty three (33) cases of traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee during sports in semi-professional athletes aged 16-38 years old (average: 25,3 yrs). In nineteen (19) of them, hemarthrosis was located in the right knee, while in fourteen (14) in the left one.
Twenty two (22) were males and eleven (11) were females. Knee hemarthrosis occurred in soccer (11), mini-soccer (8), basketball (6), volleyball (4), jogging (2), karate (2). Initial evaluation was consisted of clinical examination, standard x-rays, MRI-scan (during the first 10 days, whenever x-rays were negati-ve for fracture). Patients were followed-up for 3-15 months.

Results

Hemarthrosis of the knee was due to meniscal tears (12), ACL tear (8), patella’s fracture (4), patella’s sublaxation/dislocation (3), avulsion fracture of intracondylar eminence (2), quadriceps ruptu-re (2), impaction of femoral condyle (2). Eighteen (18) patients underwent knee arthroscopy, between the 18th -24th post-injury day. 72% of the injuries were treated operatively. In 90% of cases, the results of treatment were very good-excellent.

Conclusions

Knee hemarthrosis during sports in semi-professional athletes was due to various causes. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment was essential for the outcome.