Conditions

Introduction

Accidents and sports injuries are common occurrences anywhere in the world you might be. These unfortunate events may happen when you least expect them, such as walking down the footpath or when participating in your weekend sports like football or cycling. While most injuries will heal on their own with rest and simple medication, others will persist over time or worsen. It is important to seek medical help and advice if you are concerned about an injury you are carrying. An accurate diagnosis would be the first step to getting the right treatment for it.

Common Types of Joint Injuries

As a sports and trauma surgeon, I see lots of injuries around the knees, ankles and shoulders. Some patients enter my room with a limp or are hobbling with crutches. Others are in wheelchairs or an arm sling. After taking a medical history and performing a clinical examination, I often arrange for an X-ray or MRI scan of the injured area to assess the nature and severity of the injuries.

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries include sprains or tears of ligaments, meniscus or cartilage. Ligament injuries such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are fairly common and are a result of twisting sports injuries. Meniscus tears with cartilage wear are also common injuries and are a result of sports or degeneration over time. These chronic injuries may cause worsening pain or a drop in function.

Ankle Sprains & Fractures

Ankle sprains are fairly common due to uneven surfaces or patients being distracted as they are walking (mostly on their mobile phones!). Some experience a once-off ankle sprain, while others suffer from recurrent ankle sprains. Loose ankles are not ideal as they cause collateral injuries to the other structures of the ankle, such as the cartilage and tendons. An ankle MRI would determine which ligaments are injured and how severe the injuries are.

An ankle fracture occurs when one or more ankle bones are broken. This common injury can result from sports, falls, or accidents. The ankle enables walking, running, jumping, and standing, so a fracture can impair daily activities. This guide explains what an ankle fracture is, how it occurs, and how to treat it for full recovery.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder symptoms may include pain, stiffness and loss of function too. Not all these injuries are sports-related. Some are related to frozen shoulder, which is more common in patients with diabetes, or caused by rotator cuff conditions and shoulder dislocation. Pain and stiffness around the shoulder make it difficult for us to groom ourselves, get dressed and perform simple daily activities. These symptoms also affect our sleep and result in lower productivity during the day.

Neck and Lower Back Trauma

Our modern lifestyles also result in increased neck and lower back pain. This is due to the prolonged time spent in front of our computers in a poor posture. Our muscles are always tense due to stress and fatigue. Others may experience neck pain and lower back pain after a fall during sports or a road traffic accident.

Symptoms & When to Seek Urgent Help

It is important to listen to your body and seek medical help when your injuries do not get better after a reasonable amount of time resting and self-care. Severe pain despite medication, loss of function and significant swelling are tell-tale signs that you need to seek medical advice from an orthopaedic surgeon.

Treatment Options in Singapore

Not all injuries require surgery. Most get better with simple medication, rest, compression around a swollen joint and physiotherapy. Injections into the injured joint are also administered to patients with minor injuries to improve function and enable better participation in physiotherapy. Surgery is often a last resort for severe injuries which have failed conservative treatment.

There are some parts of the body with poor blood supply that do not simply heal by themselves. An example is a ruptured ACL or torn meniscus. These two injuries often require surgery to re-establish their structure and function. Middle-aged or older patients with chronic injuries, including tears and arthritis, may sometimes benefit from joint replacement to improve their physical function. This is akin to replacing a car's tyres rather than repairing a worn-out one, so the car can continue functioning safely for many more years to come!

Why Choose Our Clinic

Dr Mizan’s extensive orthopaedic repertoire includes managing sports and bony injuries around both the upper and lower limbs. He practices joint preservation surgery, including meniscus repair, cartilage repair and ACL reconstruction surgery. He is also well-versed in joint replacement surgery, including partial and total knee replacements, as well as the direct anterior approach to total hip replacements. 

Same-day appointments are available at both his clinics at Mt Elizabeth Hospital (Orchard) and Katong. Schedule your first appointment now!