john t knight md
Dr. Knight is widely regarded as one of the prominent hand and wrist specialists specializing in minimally invasive techniques for innovative treatments of hand, wrist and upper extremity injuries and disorders. Excelling in the area of advanced wrist arthroscopic procedures and stitchless endoscopic carpal tunnel release procedures, he has more than 20 years of experience and has performed over 15,000 procedures.
He obtained his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, where he received the Louisiana Orthopedic Association Outstanding Student Award. Following his orthopedic training at LSU Medical Center, he completed a Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at the Joesph H. Boyes program in Los Angeles.
Dr. Knight gained national notoriety in the late 1990s with his persistence and dedication that helped Congress pass the Aviation Medical Assistance Act on April 24, 1998 that lead to defibrillators on all airplanes. Among his many achievements, he was one of the first doctors in the Southern U.S. to perform a successful toe-to-thumb transplantation. He also was one of the first in the U.S. to implant the Free Hand System, an internal computerized system restoring function to the quadriplegic patients’ hand.
Dr. Knight’s group, DISC Sports and Spine Center, is an Official Medical Services Provider of the U.S. Olympic Team. Dr. Knight has not only treated Olympic athletes, but has treated many of the elite professional athletes from all sports including martial arts and boxing. However, most of his treatment is spent on day to day treatment of the weekend warriors.
Dr. Knight has a passion for treating combat sports injuries as he has been fighting for 10 years as a high ranking artist in MuDo Integrated Martial Arts. Mu (Martial) / Do (Way) is a comprehensive martial arts system integrating the use of striking, grappling, throwing, and joint manipulations. Central in its practice is the development of the self, as defined through the philosophical perspectives of Taoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism. It shares roots with Hapkido, Jujutsu, Taekwondo, Judo, Kempo, and Wrestling.
Boxer's Knuckle
This case involves a 24 year old Mixed Martial Artist who injured his non-dominant left hand at the base of the middle finger at the knuckle or MCP joint after throwing a straight punch. He felt immediate pain and swelling with snapping noted at the top of the knuckle when moving the finger from extension to flexion.
Wrist Injuries
The one injury in the upper extremity that is frequently not diagnosed or misdiagnosed is a cartilage or ligament injury, an all too frequent injury not just in the novice fighter but the professional.