Abstract

Musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) is the most common reason for short-term occupational limitation and subsequent medically related early departure from the military. MSKI-related medical discharge/separation occurs when service personnel are unable to perform their roles due to pain or functional limitations associated with long-term conditions, including osteoarthritis (OA). There is a clear link between traumatic knee injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament or meniscal, and the development of post-traumatic OA (PTOA). Notably, PTOA is the leading cause of disability following combat injury. Primary injury prevention strategies exist within the military, with interventions focused on conditioning, physical health and leadership. However, not every injury can be prevented, and there is a need to develop secondary prevention to mitigate or reduce the risk of PTOA following an MSKI. Two international collaborative groups, OPTIKNEE and OA Action Alliance, recently produced rigorous evidence-based consensus statements for the secondary prevention of OA following a traumatic knee injury, including consensus definitions and clinical and research recommendations. These recommendations focus on patient-centred lifespan interventions to optimise joint health and prevent lost decades of care. This article aims to describe their relevance and applicability to the military population and outline some of the challenges associated with service life that need to be considered for successful integration into military care pathways and research studies.