The knees and ankles in sport and veteran military parachutists

Abstract

112 actively parachuting sport (free fall) parachutists with more than 200 descents each and 109 veteran military parachutists no longer active returned a postal questionnaire about their parachuting activities, injuries, and current and past musculoskeletal symptoms. A high frequency of fractures and injuries was reported by each group, both in relation to parachuting and to other activities. 58 sport parachutists aged 23 to 57 years (mean 33.3 years) had weight-bearing antero-posterior and lateral radiographs taken of each knee. These showed a prevalence of radiological osteoarthrosis of 10.4% which was mild in degree in all but one knee in one subject. 46 ex-military parachutists aged 50 to 70 years (mean 55.2 years) had weight-bearing anteroposterior radiographs taken of both knees and showed a prevalence of radiological osteoarthrosis of 41.3%. Moderate and severe changes were found in 10.9%. In both groups of parachutists six of the eight knee joints showing either moderate or severe radiological osteoarthrosis had been subjected to a previous meniscectomy. Forty ex-military parachutists had anteroposterior radiographs of the ankles (talotibial articulation) and showed a prevalence of osteoarthrosis of 17.5%, with the majority showing mild changes. There was a poor correlation between radiological oteoarthrosis, ankle symptoms, and previous fractures. With the reservation that the great majority of the sport group are still young (95% aged <50 years), it is concluded that parachutists as a group do not show an increased prevalence of radiological osteoarthrosis of the knee or ankle.