Cases of arthritis in young people may be linked to a rise in surgery on or around knee joints, according to research in the US.

New York Times blogger Gretchen Reynolds noted that experiments on cow cartilage by orthapedic specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Dr. Constance Chu found that minor damage can cause a spread of dying cells.

Dr Chu's research was published recently in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, where she stated that the trauma of surgery on joints could be causing arthritis, suggesting this may be why she had seen "so many patients in their 20s and 30s with knee arthritis after joint injury".

Ms Reynolds noted that a lot of surgery is carried out on young people who have suffered sporting injuries and quoted Dr Chu as stating that some people who have had this sort of work done may never have entirely healthy knees again.

UK statistics show that one in ten people aged 15-24 see their GP each year with a musculoskeletal problem.