Young Athlete Podcast: The Swollen Knee

The Swollen Knee - Dr Ben Gooden

May 26, 2019

Dr Gooden is a fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon who specialises in surgery of the hip and knee and Orthopaedic trauma. In this episode we talk about the swollen knee, a common condition that most young athletes will experience at some point.

A swollen knee can happen for a variety of reasons and is often managed fairly simply, however, sometimes it can be a more significant issue that requires further review and treatment.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

Do swollen knees differ in presentation according to the age of the young athlete?
Has there been some sort of event that has caused the knee to swell?
Could this swelling be because of some other condition such as arthritis?
What types of structures could be injured to cause the knee to swell?
How soon after an injury where the knee swells should I seek treatment from a physio or Dr?
What sorts of things can help parents or coaches to decide if you should be seen immediately or you can wait a few days?
Should I get an x-ray, MRI or ultrasound of the knee?
CT scans of the knee should be avoided unless the need for this is explained very clearly
Swelling in the knee, is the knee’s cry for help – often this will settle
We talk about management of the swollen knee and where parents and coaches are best placed to get help for their young athletes.
A Physiotherapist or Sports Physician is often a good first port of call before seeing an orthopaedic surgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeons are also able to be used as an expert review as part of a team
Rare – but more serious knee issues that present as swollen knees
When should you use painkillers or anti-inflammatories?
The importance of managing the training loads of your young athlete
How challenging is it to teach perspective to young athletes about making decisions on their injury for their long term health
Encouraging young athletes to not push through injuries
Does the management of the swollen knee change with the truly elite young athlete?
What is the value of the various injury prevention programs that are out there?