Osteo-Arthritis knows nothing of your age
August 18th 2010

Note the narrowing of the left knee joint space (arrow) as opposed to the other knee.
 

A 27 year old male comes to the center for consultation and evaluation of his left knee. The patient states that about two months ago he woke up with pain in the left knee and the pain has not stopped ever since.

Except for knee pain, the patient is otherwise healthy and he is an avid basketball player. However the last time he could play basketball was three weeks ago. He recalls a very bad fall on the same knee about 10 years ago.

The patient’s x-ray shows narrowing of joint space as compared to his right knee.

 

Discussion:

After further evaluation and examination, it was confirmed that the patient has deterioration and degeneration of the left knee joint. When the patient was told of his predicament he got upset and he said “but doctor, I am too young to have arthritis, isn’t that a disease for the elderly?”

The patient was explained about the pathophysiology of Osteo-Arthritis and how trauma in an early stage of life could lead to Osteo-Arthritis later in life. "Son, it is my opinion that phrases such as no pain, no gain, which was taught by our fathers and was passed along generation by generation is in reality made so that they can sell their jerseys and sneakers to us",  was my response to him.

Sports injuries of knees   could lead  to surgeries and possible  total knee replacement at a young age.