Sports Orthopedic Surgeon

What is a sports orthopedic surgeon?

An orthopedic surgeon treats conditions of the musculoskeletal system, meaning injuries to the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves.

Usually, an orthopedic surgeon specializes in one area, such as the ankle and the foot, for example.

A specialized surgeon generally deals with sports trauma within their area of expertise.

Sports orthopedic surgery procedures

Achilles Tendon Ruptures

Achilles tendon ruptures are common in sports practice.

They can occur during a violent eccentric contraction of the calf muscles in a trained patient. This mechanism is often seen during push-offs, for example, in counter-movements.

Achilles ruptures are also seen in former athletes who return to sports as if they never stopped, after several years of sports inactivity.

While orthopedic treatment, meaning non-surgical, can be proposed, it is preferable to surgically repair the Achilles tendon in athletes to limit the following risks: 

• Secondary lengthening of the Achilles at the tendon scar
• Atrophy of the triceps surae
• The risk of new Achilles tendon rupture

Ankle Sprains

After one or more ankle sprains, a patient may experience pain, ankle instability, or both.

On clinical examination, the ligamentous stretching potentially caused by one or more ankle sprains is called laxity.

If, despite ankle rehabilitation after each sprain, instability or even disabling pain persists, ligament stabilization surgery may be proposed. This is called a ligamentoplasty.

Recurrent sprains and significant laxity promote the development of ankle osteoarthritis in the long term by increasing shearing stresses on the cartilage.

Fibular Tendon Lesions

The fibular muscles are stabilizers of the ankle. The pathway of the tendons behind and below the lateral malleolus is a weak point, as this is an area of lower vascularization for the tendons.

The axis of the hindfoot, the morphology of the foot, and the presence of ankle ligament injuries are predisposing or aggravating factors for peroneal tendon lesions.

In the case of fissure lesions of the peroneal tendons, surgical repair is proposed, potentially combined with correction of aggravating or predisposing factors.

Severe Sprain of the Big Toe or Hallux: Turf Toe

Turf toe is a serious injury of the hallux at the metatarsophalangeal joint.

This term comes from injuries to the big toe observed in American football players who play on synthetic turf with rather flexible shoes.

The structures that can be affected, with varying degrees of severity, are:

• The joint capsule
• The plantar plate
• The articular cartilage
• The collateral ligaments
• The sesamoid bones

Depending on the severity of the lesions, surgical treatment may be proposed.

Sports orthopedic surgeon in Nice

For athletes with traumatic injuries of the ankle or foot, it is necessary to consult an orthopedic surgeon specialized in ankle and foot conditions. This is where our orthopedic department can step in.

The foot clinic

We specialize in medical and surgical conditions of the ankle and foot in athletes. Our foot specialists use arthroscopic, percutaneous, and minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat the various conditions your foot may suffer from. We also have the expertise to perform a total ankle replacement or surgery for ankle fracture sequelae and issues of the hindfoot.