Fast Bowler's knee - anteromedial articular impingement

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Fast bowlers in cricket experience high impact forces on the lead leg knee.
• Knee pain and effusion are common complaints among these athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize anterior impingement lesions of the medial femoral condyle in international cricketers.
• To evaluate management strategies and outcomes for this specific injury.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of seven international fast bowlers with knee pain.
• Clinical evaluation, MRI, and subsequent conservative or arthroscopic surgical management.
• Outcomes assessed by return to play and symptom resolution.

Main Results:

• All patients showed medial femoral condyle edema on MRI; 4 had associated cartilage loss.
• Conservative management was used for 3 patients, while 4 underwent arthroscopic surgery.
• All athletes returned to international cricket, averaging 6 months (conservative) and 8 months (surgical).

Conclusions:

• Anterior impingement of the anteromedial femoral condyle is a significant injury for fast bowlers.
• A high index of suspicion is crucial for diagnosing this condition in bowlers presenting with knee pain and effusion.
• Both conservative and surgical interventions can lead to successful return to elite cricket.