to MedLife Hospital Polisano Sibiuthe first took place recently: 11 patients with knee injuries benefited from arthroscopic interventions, including 9 ligamentoplasty, performed by two surgical teams that remained in the operating room from morning to late evening. “The intervention was carried out carefully, in a relaxing atmosphere, with music and even a few jokes, which gave me security and drove away all emotions,” says one of the patients – Maria Bata, an actress from the United States of America, who decided to undergo the operation in Sibiu.

“I started having pain in my left knee about a year ago. It was a fairly constant pain that appeared two or three times a month and especially intensified after long walks or more intensive training in the gym,” Maria Bata tells how the problems with her knees began.

What made her realize that this could be a serious problem was a slight inflammation of the right side of her knee three months ago after a minor incident where she tripped and fell with all her weight on both knees. It was then that he became convinced of the need for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to reveal the true causes of his pain.

“I was taken by surprise, I did not expect such a diagnosis: a tear of the meniscus of the IV degree, the exit from treatment – surgical intervention. But this is a life full of unpredictability,” Maria smiles.

The diagnosis surprised all the more because Maria does not remember exactly whether she had such a strong injury to justify a meniscus tear, especially since the pain had been going on for almost a year when it happened.

Postponing the operation would have worsened the injury

On the recommendation of a friend, Maria came to the primary sports orthopedics-traumatology office of Daniel Alba, MD, to decipher the MRI. “The doctor’s diagnosis was very clear, and delay would have led to a possible worsening of the situation. In any case, sooner or later the same remedy arrived: an operation,” says Maria Bata.

Dr. Daniel Albu gave Maria not only a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment, but also the confidence she needed before surgery: “Dr. Daniel Albu is the perfect combination of professionalism and human character of a 10th grader. Empathetic, communicative, patient, altruistic, very passionate about his work, he made the whole medical process easier, both physically and mentally.”

Dr. Albu confirms that postponing surgery in Maria Bata’s case could have resulted in additional damage to the knee, so a surgical decision was made by mutual consent through arthroscopic access, meniscal suture, and partial meniscal resection. “Meniscus injury is a common pathology in young patients, and surgery as soon as possible after the injury promotes faster recovery,” says Dr. Albu.

What is arthroscopic intervention and how did it go for the patient

Maria’s knee pain was caused by a fracture and tear of a piece of the meniscus that penetrated between the articular surfaces. “Practically every time the patient made a flexion or extension movement at the level of the knee, a part of a certain area of ​​the meniscus hung between the articular surfaces. Unfortunately, the long period of time between the time of the injury and the time of surgery did not offer a viable opportunity to attempt to sew the relevant piece together, due to which a significant part of the detached fragment had to be removed,” explains Dr. Albu. .

Only three weeks after the MRI was deciphered, an arthroscopy of the knee joint was performed. More specifically, through a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves inserting a small camera called an arthroscope into the knee joint. A camera transmits images to a monitor, and the surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments inserted through very small incisions.

“The preparation for the operation went smoothly, and the intervention itself was carried out carefully, in a calm atmosphere, with music and even a few jokes, which made me feel safe and drove away all the emotions I had. The hospitalization lasted two days, during which the MedLife medical team provided me with thorough care and constant support,” says Maria Bata.

Postoperative recovery

Two days after the arthroscopic intervention, Maria was discharged, medical treatment was carried out, and a rehabilitation program was started two days later.

Recovery involves two weeks of electrical stimulation and physical therapy and another two weeks of physical therapy, regular exercises to strengthen the knee muscles, improve flexibility, and gradually restore normal knee function. In addition to all this, there are three more infiltrates with vaso-elastic substances, says Maria.

“Not even a month has passed since the intervention and I feel very well. The knee looks good, not swollen. Being an antroscopic procedure, the scar will be very little visible. After about 10-14 days, I was off the crutches and the mobility of my leg was much improved. I’m sure I’ll be back to normal soon,” she says.

Marathon supported by MedLife doctors: 11 knee arthroscopies per day

Maria Bata’s intervention was one of 11 arthroscopic knee operations performed in one day, from morning to evening, by two surgical teams in two rooms at MedLife Hospital Polisano Sibiu.

The most complex interventions were ligamentoplasty of the anterior cruciate ligament. “Ligamentoplasty is a technically complex operation: it involves the restoration of ligaments with the help of arthroscopic maneuvers. The intervention includes several stages. At the first stage, the tendons for the new ligament are prepared, after which they are positioned and fixed with special implants at the level of the knee. The duration of the operation is ideally about an hour,” explains Dr. Daniel Albu.

How to tear the anterior cruciate ligament

Pathologies of the knee joint – both ACL tears and meniscal tears – are common in young patients, especially among athletes who participate in sports as well as those who do not participate in high-level sports. “There are patients who manage the “performance” of a rupture of the cruciate ligament with the help of simple mechanisms: falling from one level or a sharp change of direction. Obviously, athletes and people who play sports, even if it’s only recreational, are more prone to such injuries,” says Dr. Albu.

Among the 11 patients operated on during the surgical marathon at MedLife Polisano Sibiu, some were athletes: football, handball and basketball players.

According to the doctor, skiing accidents remain one of the most common causes of anterior cruciate ligament tears. “Activities related to skiing, even at the amateur or professional level, present a constant risk to the knees. Of course, we have to divide the patients into categories: of course, a professional skier is better protected from such injuries by better training than a semi-professional or an amateur. A common mistake is that many patients – more than we would like – do not do any exercise or physical training before the start of the ski season and expose themselves to very high loads by going directly to the skis, and thus injuries occur. “, he clarifies.

When surgery is necessary

The main manifestation of rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is instability of the knee. Patients are no longer able to perform normal physical activities or lifestyles that involve rotation or semiflexion of the affected knee.

But indications for surgical intervention in the case of rupture of the cruciate ligament are given only after conducting magnetic resonance imaging. “Depending on the lesions that appear on imaging, surgery or, less commonly, conservative treatment with kinetics and physical therapy is indicated.”

Why not postpone the operation

“Ideally, surgery for knee joint injuries should be performed as soon as possible after the injury. According to the most modern principles, the sooner the surgical intervention is performed from the moment of the injury, the better the prognosis is and we can hope for a reduction in the recovery time of the patients,” emphasizes Dr. Albu.

While in the case of athletes who injure their knees, the protocol involves examination, diagnosis and treatment of injuries as early as possible, non-athletic patients often delay a visit to the doctor. The biggest risk is additional injuries to the knee, says the doctor.

However, even if more time has passed since the injury, the surgical solution significantly improves the function and mobility of the knee and eliminates pain at that level.

Complex rehabilitation program afterligamentoplasty

If in the case of a meniscus tear, as was the case with Maria Bata, the mobilization is carried out almost immediately and the recovery is quite easy, in the case of ligamentoplasty the recovery is long and involves certain periods of gradual mobilization, during the rehabilitation protocol with very clear indications and contraindications for patients . “For at least seven months after the operation, the patient should not engage in intense physical activity. Ideally, the recovery period should last nine months, or even a year. During this period, the patient, despite the obvious progress, undergoes a comprehensive rehabilitation program for both joint mobility and muscle strength recovery,” explains Dr. Daniel Albu.

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Article as part of the campaign “Happy people, good doctors”.

The main source of happiness for Romanians is health. At MedLife, the happiness of people makes us happy, inspires and motivates us to provide medical solutions of the highest standards.

Regardless of the specialty, at MedLife you can always find good doctors who know how to find an approach to patients, treat them with attention and sensitivity, and inspire trust. With experience, they are part of the largest diagnostic and treatment platform in Romania and thanks to the latest technologies, they never forget to be, in turn, human. And this is because, in addition to talent, vocation, experience and professional skills, they are guided by two main things: love for people and their happiness, which gives them the satisfaction of a successfully completed mission at the end of each day.

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