JEDDAH, 26 May 2006 — Over 6,000 Saudis have suffered from torn ligaments this year, according to a leading doctor based in Jeddah.
Dr. Al-Husseiny Moustafa told Arab News that people are not aware of the consequences when their children play football especially outdoors without any warming up before each match.
The increasing number of torn ligament cases reported at hospitals up till now shows people are still not aware of it.
Dr. Moustafa said he presented a paper in February at the third International Orthopedic Symposium, organized by the Saudi German Hospital, trying to raise awareness on the subject. And hence he made the shocking announcement together with recommendations of a new technique in how to cure such illnesses.
He said: “What makes Saudi Arabia unique is that, unlike other countries, all cases of torn ligaments here involve only men, never women.”
Dr. Moustafa explained that usually men between 20 and 30 years of age are forced to undertake surgery and that people who play street-football without supervision by coaches or professional athletes were at a greater risk of injury.
Dr. Moustafa added: “They come from school and begin playing without any warming-up and supervision and this is what causes ligaments to tear.”
In his paper Dr. Moustafa, Head of the Arthroscopy Unit and Sports Injury, outlined a new technique to heal tears using a “double-bundle technique”, which reconstructs both bundles (knees) instead of just one.
He said that ACL surgeries make up for around five percent of the world’s bone surgeries and globally at least one in every 3,000 people undertake such treatment.
In the US, statistics by the National Institute of Health show that 100,000 new cases occur each year with 10 percent of injuries leading to occupational disability.
In Germany 32 people in every 100, 000 suffer from such illness with 70 athletes in every 100,000 suffering torn ligaments.
Dr. Moustafa said that Professor Rene Verdonk from Belgium advised against traditional Menisectomy operations and said that efforts should be made to try to save the Meniscus as much as possible.
But for those patients who have undergone Menisectomy operations previously, he said, “Meniscal transplantation is an option.”
Professor Philippe Neyret, from France, contributed to the forum with details of his experience in treating cartilage injury (Articular Cartilage Lesion).
Neyret outlined a new technique called Cartipatch which involves artificially creating a patient’s cartilage in a laboratory and then inserting it into an injured knee.
Mohammad Al-Daggaf, a football fan in his forties, has twice undergone ACL surgery. Speaking to Arab News he said that in order to rapidly recover he followed his doctor’s advice and underwent therapy sessions and exercise.
He said: “After around five to six months, thanks to God, I was able to play football again.”
Al-Daggaf added that other people who undertook surgery a year ago still continue to suffer because of not following the advice given by doctors.
Finally Dr. Moustafa offered some advice to young athletes suffering torn ligaments. He said people need to ensure they continuously visit natural therapy sessions for at least six weeks and under the supervision of an expert join a gym to work on exercises to help strengthen muscles for at least 45 days.
The doctor added that sportsmen should not play for at least six months after surgery to allow ligaments to heal.
He also said that people need to ensure thigh muscles in both legs are equally strong before undertaking any sort of activities.
The doctor added that for those fortunate enough not to have undergone any surgery “warming up before playing is the smartest and safest solution in avoiding injuries.”
