2008年一项研究表明，最常见的肌腱和韧带损伤是膝关节损伤。[1]Clayton RA, Court-Brown CM. The epidemiology of musculoskeletal tendinous and ligamentous injuries. Injury. 2008;39:1338-1344.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19036362?tool=bestpractice.com全身各个关节都可能发生运动损伤，但在滑冰，滑雪等冬季奥林匹克运动项目以及水上滑板，旋转，足球及军训过程中，膝关节损伤始终最为常见。[2]Hansom D, Sutherland A. Injury prevention strategies in skiers and snowboarders. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9:169-175.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20463501?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Hauret KG, Jones BH, Bullock SH, et al. Musculoskeletal injuries: description of an under-recognized injury problem among military personnel. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(1 Suppl):S61-S70.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20117601?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Engebretsen L, Steffen K, Alonso JM, et al. Sports injuries and illnesses during the Winter Olympic Games 2010. Br J Sports Med. 2010;44:772-780.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20820057?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Patzer T, Hrabal SA, Timmesfeld N, et al. Incidence and mechanism of injuries in cable-wakeboarding: a prospective study [in German]. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2009;23:141-147.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19750442?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Taanila H, Suni J, Pihlajamäki H, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders in physically active conscripts: a one-year follow-up study in the Finnish Defence Forces. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009;10:89.http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/10/89http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19624829?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Lubetzky-Vilnai A, Carmeli E, Katz-Leurer M. Prevalence of injuries among young adults in sport centers: relation to the type and pattern of activity. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009;19:828-833.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19508649?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Gaulrapp H, Becker A, Walther M, et al. Injuries in women's soccer: a 1-year all players prospective field study of the women's Bundesliga (German premier league). Clin J Sport Med. 2010;20:264-271.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20606511?tool=bestpractice.com许多膝损伤可通过休息、冰敷、制动和物理治疗进行保守治疗。但有些膝关节损伤则需要手术干预。这些手术多为风险较低的门诊手术。

急性膝损伤

急性膝损伤是一种新发作的疾病过程或新损伤。大多数定义为，急性膝关节损伤在受伤或初次发病后30至42天内被确诊。

慢性膝损伤

慢性膝关节损伤指因残留的旧伤，或手术、退行性疾病导致以及在受伤后30-42天内早期症状未得到解决的一类膝关节损伤。