The evolution of sports medicine and its therapeutic methods.

Orthopedic Surgery Department / At Jordan Hospital

Sports injuries are among the most common injuries in recent years, as the number of people of different ages practicing various types of sports has increased. Consequently, sports injuries vary in type, severity, and the affected body parts, ranging from injuries limited to muscle strains, swelling, and sprains to injuries that result in tears in cartilage and tendons, and even fractures. Based on this, the field of orthopedics and joint surgery, particularly that portion related to sports injuries, has undergone a significant evolution and has witnessed qualitative leaps in the mechanisms and procedures of treatment, surgical operations, and techniques used in rehabilitation.

Since the shoulder and knee joints are the most susceptible to sports injuries, which may result in tears and ruptures of the meniscal cartilage and collateral ligaments in the knee as well as the extensor tendons of the shoulder, attention to the methods of diagnosing and treating them has become a priority. Treatment has evolved from traditional surgery involving opening the joint to the use of arthroscopy for diagnosis only, and eventually to employing arthroscopy for repair and necessary restoration procedures through two small incisions, each not exceeding one centimeter, thus eliminating traditional surgeries. This has improved outcomes, reduced complications, and shortened treatment times and recovery periods, resulting in a faster return to normal life.

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Joints at Jordan Hospital is fortunate in this field, as it has been keen to provide everything modern and advanced in the world of surgical endoscopy. It has under its management multiple endoscopic devices from various leading global companies in this field, which allows for the performance of different surgeries at the same time.

It is also equipped, and in a manner that is updated periodically, with all the necessary medical supplies to conduct the most difficult and complex surgeries without the need to request them from outside the hospital, so that the surgeon is prepared for any emergencies that occur during the operations without the need for postponement or cancellation.

To keep pace with the rapid developments in this field, Dr. Kamal Al-Afifi, head of the orthopedics and joints department, is working on sending medical staff from resident doctors to elevate their scientific and practical levels. He is keen on having them attend all conferences and workshops that focus on sports injuries and their treatment methods at the largest specialized centers at local, regional, and global levels, the latest of which took place in Turkey and Germany.