Complex knee ligament injuries occur when athletes or patients sustain severe trauma, injuring two or more ligaments in or around the knee. In these cases, surgery is typically needed to repair or reconstruct these important structures. Without this surgery, the knee has potential for being unstable with simple daily activities or athletic pursuits. There is also risk of premature arthritis secondary to the abnormal motion of the knee joint. These injuries can occur during athletics and collision sports, or traumatic events such as falls from heights, or motorcycle or automobile injuries. The most severe of these injuries, a knee dislocation, is typically the result of a high-energy injury resulting in disruption of the normal alignment of the thigh (femur) and the shin (tibia) bones. Unfortunately, these are injuries that can cause both neurologic or blood vessel injuries and can be limb-threatening emergencies. Knee dislocations are fortunately rare, accounting for 0.02-0.2% of all musculoskeletal injuries. To find out more about this program, please fill out a brief survey . A thorough and accurate diagnosis is critical in treating these complicated knee injuries. Proper diagnosis, including identification of the torn ligaments as well as assessment of the location of the tear and associated injuries, is one of the primary challenges with treatment of these injuries. While high-resolution MRI is a critical diagnostic tool, the ability to quickly and accurately diagnose these injuries requires the surgeon to have excellent knowledge of the complex function of the knee ligaments and skilled physical examination techniques. Combined with the MRI images, this allows for an individualized treatment plan for these unique injuries. Through our involvement with Yale New Haven Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center program, our orthopaedic and trauma surgeons have developed extensive experience with these injuries over the past 20 years. Our orthopaedists work closely with our general surgery trauma, vascular surgery, plastic surgery and expert musculoskeletal radiology colleagues in order to care for these potentially limb-threatening knee injuries. Prompt diagnosis is of highest importance and we accept referrals and transfers from all outside facilities, which can be arranged through our Yale New Haven Hospital Y Access program (888-YNHH-BED). Patients are occasionally “life flighted” via SkyHealth from outside facilities by helicopter to be treated at our tertiary care center. SkyHealth travels within a 200-mile radius of New Haven. Our team also works closely with affiliated physical therapists who are trained in the management of patients in their recovery phase of healing. As these injuries and procedures are uncommon, a carefully structured rehabilitation program guided by experiences physical therapists is also crucial to patient recovery. Depending upon the clinical situation, care is either performed in an inpatient setting at Yale New Haven Hos

We specialize in a wide range of preventive care and treatment options for injuries and conditions related to competitive and recreational athletics. Sports-related injuries require specialized care to promote optimum healing. We focus on promoting and maintaining an active lifestyle through non-operative rehabilitation programs and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical procedures. Using the most up-to-date arthroscopic techniques, our surgeons are specialists in repairing joint damage to the knee, ankle, shoulder, hip, or elbow. Our team works with patients to minimize disabilities resulting from sports injuries and conditions and to maximize quality of life. We offer the following specialized services: Hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow arthroscopy Cartilage preservation and restoration procedures (including Microfracture, Osteochondral Transfer (OATs) and Carticel® and meniscus transplantation) On-site physical therapy Non-operative and alternative treatments for common sports injuries Our specialists also consult with local high school and college coaches. We regularly conduct seminars for coaches, trainers, and physicians, focusing on injury prevention and modern treatment methods. We also provide medical coverage for various athletic events and teams, including the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament, the New Haven Road Race, and several area high schools.