ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four major knee ligaments that are critical to knee stability that prevents excessive motion of knee joint. As per Dr. L. Tomar people injuring their ACL complain of symptoms of knee giving-out. Many patients sustaining ACL tear prefer to have surgical treatment of this injury.
ACL tear is often related to sports injury and can also occur during mishaps like:
· Driving vehicle collision
· Falls
· Work-related injuries
Most often ACL tears occurs when pivoting/landing from jump where the tear occurs and knee gives-out from under athlete.
Signs of ACL Tear
Diagnosis of ACL tear is made using several methods. These include:
· Previous sustained injury to knee (Often sports-related)
· Knee swelling and pain
· Other signs of instability of knee
Other than these, an MRI can also be used for determining:
· If ligament is torn
· To look out for signs of other associated injuries in knee
Non-operative Care
ACL tears do not always relate to requirement of surgery. Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. L. Tomar considers several important factors before undergoing ACL surgery. These include:
· Do patients regularly perform activities requiring functional ACL
· Do patients experience knee instability
Further, if ACL is not completely torn, ACL reconstruction surgery is not necessary. Patients may start feeling better within few weeks of injury but at the same time problems related to instability may persist.
Surgery for ACL Tear
The surgery performed for ACL tear is called ACL reconstruction that includes reconstruction of the ligament using another tendon/ligament as a substitute for torn ligament. With many options for performing ACL surgery, the common ones include:
· Use of graft to reconstruct torn ACL
· Double-bundle ACL reconstruction
Associated Risks
The associated risks of ACL surgery include:
· Infection
· Persistent instability and pain
· Stiffness
· Difficulty to return to previous level of activity
Post-Surgical Rehab
Rehab following ACL surgery maintains focus on restoring motion and strength, thus improving stability of joints as well as in preventing future injuries. Though general guidelines are provided for ACL rehab, it is critically important for each of the patients who have undergone surgery to progress as their knee allows. Further, the support of experienced therapist and physician also helps in maintaining a proper guidance for the rehab.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four major knee ligaments that are critical to knee stability that prevents excessive motion of knee joint. As per Dr. L. Tomar people injuring their ACL complain of symptoms of knee giving-out. Many patients sustaining ACL tear prefer to have surgical treatment of this injury.
ACL tear is often related to sports injury and can also occur during mishaps like:
· Driving vehicle collision
· Falls
· Work-related injuries
Most often ACL tears occurs when pivoting/landing from jump where the tear occurs and knee gives-out from under athlete.
Signs of ACL Tear
Diagnosis of ACL tear is made using several methods. These include:
· Previous sustained injury to knee (Often sports-related)
· Knee swelling and pain
· Other signs of instability of knee
Other than these, an MRI can also be used for determining:
· If ligament is torn
· To look out for signs of other associated injuries in knee
Non-operative Care
ACL tears do not always relate to requirement of surgery. Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. L. Tomar considers several important factors before undergoing ACL surgery. These include:
· Do patients regularly perform activities requiring functional ACL
· Do patients experience knee instability
Further, if ACL is not completely torn, ACL reconstruction surgery is not necessary. Patients may start feeling better within few weeks of injury but at the same time problems related to instability may persist.
Surgery for ACL Tear
The surgery performed for ACL tear is called ACL reconstruction that includes reconstruction of the ligament using another tendon/ligament as a substitute for torn ligament. With many options for performing ACL surgery, the common ones include:
· Use of graft to reconstruct torn ACL
· Double-bundle ACL reconstruction
Associated Risks
The associated risks of ACL surgery include:
· Infection
· Persistent instability and pain
· Stiffness
· Difficulty to return to previous level of activity
Post-Surgical Rehab
Rehab following ACL surgery maintains focus on restoring motion and strength, thus improving stability of joints as well as in preventing future injuries. Though general guidelines are provided for ACL rehab, it is critically important for each of the patients who have undergone surgery to progress as their knee allows. Further, the support of experienced therapist and physician also helps in maintaining a proper guidance for the rehab.