Patient Information
Our patient information area contains a library of documents on a wide range of topics such as Knee and Shoulder Orthopaedic Surgery, Arthroscopy, Physiotherapy, Massage, Pilates, Shockwave Therapy etc. We update this section regularly with new documents so please check back from time to time.
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Double Bundle ACL Reconstruction - Posted 21/09/2009
New techniques in Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction Go to the Downloads section for the Rehab Programme The majority of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions use a single bundle technique. The gold standard used to be the bone tendon bone (BTB). This uses the central part of the patellar tendon. [..]
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ACL Reconstruction - Posted 16/05/2010
This is an operation to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are 2 of the main stabilisers of the knee. There are many other structures in the knee that also contribute to stability. If any of these structures are damaged it will make the situation [..]
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ACL Overall - Posted 11/02/2011
ACL tears and reconstruction. Go to the Downloads section for the Rehab Programme The rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury goes up with the hours playing the sport and with the intensity. Team field sports like rugby, soccer, hurling and Gaelic football are considered high level sports which combine [..]
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ACL Post Op Guidelines - Posted 11/02/2011
ACL Programme General Guidelines Go to the Downloads section for the Rehab Programme
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Immediate Post Op - Posted 11/02/2011
ACL Reconstruction Go to the Downloads section for the Rehab Programme • The knee will be very swollen for the first few weeks. You will also have bruising and swelling going down the leg to the ankle. • Lie on the couch and keep your foot elevated 2 feet [..]
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Osteoarthritis - Posted 18/09/2009
Osteoarthritis This also can be called wear and tear of the joint. It is important not to get too worried about calling this arthritis as any problem with a joint can be termed arthritis. This form of arthritis does not affect other joints unless there is wear and tear in the [..]
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AAOS Osteoarthritis Recommendations - Posted 22/09/2009
Summary of Recommendations The following is a summary of the recommendations in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s clinical practice guideline, The Treatment of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee. This guideline was explicitly developed to include only treatments less invasive than knee replacement (arthroplasty). This summary does not contain rationales that [..]
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Post Operation Pain Relief - Posted 14/10/2009
Post Operation Pain Relief There are a lot of different tablets that can be used and there are very many different combinations of them. The following is just one method of simple post op analgesia that I recommend. It is possible to have excellent pain relief with over the counter pain [..]
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Hamstring Muscle Tears - Posted 12/10/2010
Hamstring Tears Hamstring tears occur typically in sprinting especially when leaning forward possibly to pick up a ball or kick it. Injury is a common occurrence through rapid, active extension of the knee, which activates eccentric action in the hamstrings decelerating the lower leg in the late swing phase. It has [..]
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Hallux Valgus Surgery - Posted 02/09/2009
You may be having surgery to correct a hallux valgus. This consists of removing the bunion on the side of your foot and straightening the bone connecting your big toe with your foot. It involves cutting across the bone with a saw and re-setting it. Afterwards you will be placed in [..]
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Knee Arthroscopy – Information prior to surgery - Posted 02/09/2009
A knee arthroscopy means that a camera is put inside the knee joint. The picture appears on a television screen and almost all the area inside the knee is visible. The operation is done under a general anaesthetic. In most cases it will be done as a day case. If you [..]
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Arthroscopy Post Op Instructions - Posted 18/09/2009
Instructions after Knee Arthroscopy You may have some pain in the knee after discharge. I have put local anaesthetic in the knee, which will probably last for 6 hours. Take tablets such as Paracetamol, Solpadeine, Aspirin or Nurofen before it gets too bad. Any painkiller that you have for a headache [..]
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Meniscus and Cartilage Injuries - Posted 21/10/2009
Meniscus and Cartilage Problems Let’s explain what the meniscus and the cartilage are, what the difference between them is and what treatments are available to treat the injuries that occur to them. Meniscus: this is a crescent shaped fibrocartilage that is between the bones in the knee joint. It acts as [..]
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Patella Tendinopathy - Posted 16/05/2010
Patella Tendinopathy What is it It is a painful condition where the patella tendon at its insertion in the inferior pole of the patella is degenerative. This means that it is partially torn. There is a response by the body to heal the tearing but this is not complete. A state [..]
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Rotator Cuff Disease - Posted 23/09/2009
The commonest cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff disease. The pain is typically at the top of the shoulder and can go to the elbow. It can be particularly painful in bed and will prevent sleep. When reaching for something in the back of the car you may feel a [..]
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Frozen Shoulder - Posted 19/09/2010
Frozen Shoulder Also known as: adhesive capsulitis What is it Frozen Shoulder is an extremely painful condition in which the shoulder is completely or partially unmovable. The cause of frozen shoulder is largely a mystery. One theory is that it may be caused by an autoimmune reaction. In an autoimmune reaction, [..]
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Shoulder Stabilisation Pre Op - Posted 13/02/2011
You may be having a stabilisation of the shoulder. This means that the capsule at the front of the shoulder will be tightened to prevent the shoulder from dislocating. It can be performed arthroscopically (keyhole). The detached labrum in the front of the shoulder is reattached to the glenoid bone and [..]
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Shoulder Decompression and Rotator Cuff Repair - Posted 02/09/2009
You may be having a decompression of the shoulder. If the Rotator Cuff tendons are torn they will be repaired. This means that the space at the top of the shoulder will be enlarged to prevent the shoulder from impinging. Tears of the rotator cuff can be small or quite large. [..]
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