An unhappy triad injury is one of the most severe sports injuries. Most cases require surgery and a recovery period of six to nine months. But if you keep up with physical therapy and give your knee ample time to heal, you’ll likely be able to get back to your usual activities in under a year.
Full Answer
Is nonoperative treatment an option for terrible triad injuries?
Complications included one patient who underwent surgical stabilization for early recurrent instability and another who underwent arthroscopic débridement for heterotopic bone. Conclusions: In selected patients, nonoperative treatment of terrible triad injuries is an option that can provide good function and restore stable elbow ROM.
Do terrible triads always lead to bad outcomes?
Without surgery, terrible triads lead to a poor outcome most of the time. The problem is that even with surgery, until relatively recently, reported outcomes were also poor in many, hence the term “terrible”.
What is the best way to recover from Triad surgery?
Care after surgery. A good way to rehab the elbow after terrible triad surgery is to perform active overhead exercises lying on your back. By placing the arm overhead in this position, gravity will help you (protect the lateral collateral ligament repair), not hurt you.
How common is loss of motion after a terrible triad?
Loss of motion to some extent is very common after terrible triads, but if most of the motion is recovered, you will feel you can perform most activities [ elbow motion ] even if your elbow does not come out fully straight or does not bend all the way up.
How are terrible triads treated?
Most terrible triad injuries are managed surgically, and good results are achievable using a standard treatment protocol that includes fixation of the coronoid fracture, fixation or replacement of the radial head, and repair of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
How long does it take for terrible triad to heal?
An unhappy triad injury is one of the most severe sports injuries. Most cases require surgery and a recovery period of six to nine months. But if you keep up with physical therapy and give your knee ample time to heal, you'll likely be able to get back to your usual activities in under a year.
Can we treat select terrible triad injuries Nonoperatively?
Conclusions: In selected patients, nonoperative treatment of terrible triad injuries is an option that can provide good function and restore stable elbow ROM. However, nonoperative management requires close clinical and radiographic followup to monitor for any delayed elbow subluxation or fracture displacement.
What factors are associated with reoperation after operative treatment of terrible triad injuries?
The most common indication for reoperation was stiffness (21% [13 of 62 patients]), followed by symptomatic hardware (18% [11 of 62 patients]), nerve symptoms (ulnar neuropathy 16% [10 of 62 patients] and incisional neuroma 2% [1 of 62 patients]), instability (6% [4 of 62 patients]), and wound problems (infection 2% [1 ...
How long does a blown out knee take to heal?
It is possible to recover from a minor sprain in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, a serious rupture can take as long as 12 months to heal. Particularly serious ruptures of the ACL or LCL may even require surgery and physical therapy.
Can you walk on a blown out knee?
If the MCL or ACL tears, the result is usually pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates.
What Causes an Unhappy Triad?
This kind of injury only occurs after a considerable force to the knee. In sport, it tends to result from a tackle, for instance in football, rugby or soccer. Or occasionally twisting the knee with a planted foot.
Can you have surgery for ACL tear?
An X-ray or MRI will usually be taken to confirm the diagnosis. Depending on the severity of the ACL and meniscus tears, surgery will usually be advised. ACL reconstruction from a graft is performed.
Can a meniscus tear be repaired?
A meniscus tear repair or removal is performed at the same time. The MCL is usually left to heal naturally. The leg will be immobilized to allow healing. A lengthy rehabilitation programme is then required to regain full strength and mobility at the knee.
What is a terrible triad?
Terrible triads are pretty substantial injuries. Patients presenting right after the injury will have marked deformity and severe pain due to the dislocation and fractures. The first evaluation oftentimes takes place in an emergency room (ER). Injuries to other body parts, such as the shoulder and wrist, are ruled out.
How to rehab elbow after triad surgery?
A good way to rehab the elbow after terrible triad surgery is to perform active overhead exercises lying on your back. By placing the arm overhead in this position, gravity will help you (protect the lateral collateral ligament repair), not hurt you. Overhead active motion exercises for terrible triad.
What is the goal of radial head surgery?
The goals of surgery include (1) reestablishing the support provided by the radial head, (2) performing a dedicated , secure ligament repair, and (3) fixing the coronoid fracture (if the fractured coronoid piece is small, it may not require fixation).
Why is 3D CT needed?
However, due to the relatively small size of the fractures and overlapping of structures, computed tomography with three-dimensional rendering (3D-CT) is necessary in most of these injuries to visualize the fractures properly.
Can a terrible triad be prevented?
Due to the fractures of the radius and coronoid, in terrible triads the elbow will want to come out of place again, although complete redislocation can be prevented in many circumstances by immobilizing the elbow bent beyond 90 degrees. Without surgery, terrible triads lead to a poor outcome most of the time.
Can you fix a radial head fracture?
Unfortunately, if the radial head is fractured in too many pieces, fixation is impossible or will just not work. Luckily, companies provide metal replacements for the really bad radial head fractures. Replacing the radial head right is actually more difficult than it sounds.
Does a terrible triad hurt?
Remember that a terrible triad is a substantial injury to the articular cartilage of the elbow as well. No surprise that many individuals will develop some arthritis over time, although the radiographs may look worrisome for many patients, the elbow actually hurts very little, and function is good.