ACL Injury
Gall Bladder StoneWhat is the ACL?
It is a small ligament in the knee attached to thigh(femur) and leg(tibia) bone. It gives the stability to knee especially while we turn and twist the knee.
Why do ACL injuries occur so frequently?
Knee joint is prone to get injured in sports. Since it transfers the body weight to the ankle and the ground. Joint force is significantly increased, especially on the forceful landing on the foot. A twisting movement during such a movement cause the ACL ligament to tear.
What are the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury?
- “Pop” – Many patients, but not all, will hear or feel a “pop” when their ACL tears.
- Immediate onset of swelling – This is an indication that there is bleeding from the injured ligament. Pain – Most patients experience quite a bit of pain with an ACL injury.
How is an ACL injury diagnosed?
Surgeon want’s to know the history of the knee injury and will determine if the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury are present. The doctor will perform manual tests on the knee to determine the amount of instability that exists. The Lachman Test, Anterior Drawer Test, and Pivot Shift Test are exams the doctor may use to see how much the tibia moves in relation to the femur.
Pain, swelling, and muscle spasms in the early stages of an injury may make it difficult for the doctor to diagnose the degree of instability with manual tests.
X-rays can reveal signs of bone fractures, chips, or arthritis. Since X-rays can only show bone, Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) -assess damage to soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. MRI is a non invasive test that allows the surgeon to determine the amount of damage to the ACL and any other structures of the knee.
How is an ACL injury treated?
- Ice the knee
- Compress the knee with a wrap
- Elevate the leg
- Non-Operative ACL treatment with rehabilitation and bracing
ACL Surgery
ACL will not heal well on its self. 20% of all patients will do well without surgery. A patient who does well without surgery is:
- Older age
- One who decreases his or her activity level
- Active individuals who involves in any sport with pivoting – such as football, tennis, basketball.
- Instability after going through a rehabilitation program.
- Rehabilitation program following an ACL surgical procedure.
- The timing of an operation is important to prevent stiness after surgery and obtain the best results.
What is ACL Reconstruction Surgery?
Mostly, ACL cannot be repaired, need to replace the torn ligament with new tissue, this is called a reconstruction. There are essentially two options from where to obtain the new ACL tissue. The rst is from the patient themselves, called autograft. Autograft options include a portion of the patient’s own hamstring, quadriceps, or patellar tendon. The second option is allograft, in which the tissue comes from another human organ donor. Arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique. Arthroscopy uses a surgical camera and small incisions that allow to evaluate the structures in your knee and reconstruct the damaged ACL.
WILL I BE ABLE TO RETURN TO MY NORMAL ACTIVITIES AFTER ACL RECONSTRUCTION?
The goal of ACL surgery is to return you to an active lifestyle including sports.
