ACL means anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament is found on the knee which is prone to injuries because of high action sports etc. Football, basketball and other games where players have to frequently get knee injuries usually get an ACL tear. The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, its job is to prevent the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur also provide a rotational stability to the knee.
ACL injury
This ligament is not the only torn but with it other parts of the knee also get injured such as the meniscus, articulated cartilage and other ligaments. There are three grades of sprains where in the First one though injured but allows for slight. Movement and keeps the knee joint stable. The second grade involves the ligament being loose and it is referred to as partial tear. The third one is more serious where the ligament is split into two and the knee joint is unstable. Most cases of tears are of third category and partial tears are rare in nature.
Symptoms of ACL injury
- – There is a popping sound and you can feel the knee give away and you can feel you affected leg collapse.
- – Pain and swelling can be observed within twenty four hours after the injury.
- – Discomfort in walking and it can be seen that the posture is changed.
- – Tenderness along the joint line will be visible as also felt by the individual.
- – Loss of full range of motion, you have difficulty in lifting your leg, turning, walking or just standing.
Detection of an ACL tear
The tear would be detected by an X ray or MRI scans. And if the above symptoms are seen and told by the patients to the doctor and professional orthopaedist will definitely get to know what the cause of pain is.
The types of treatments – a knowhow
Non surgical treatments will not cure a tear but in elderly where invasive surgery is not possible, they may opt for bracing the leg or physiotherapy. For surgery the ligaments are stitched back, if it has to be reconstructed then it has to be done with tissue graft which acts as scaffolding for the torn ligament to grow and heal. Grafts are taken from several sources from the patient’s body or from a cadaver graft is also used. These graft sources are discussed with the patient before the surgery. Visit https://nydnrehab.com/what-we-treat/knee-pain/acl-treatment-in-new-york/ to know more about the treatment.
After the surgery the graft may take a six months time for healing and the rehabilitation process before it is fully functional and it will enable the sportsman to continue playing and running as before. Arthroscopic surgery involves very less time and less invasive and heals faster and the patient recuperates better.
The rehabilitation of the patient is crucial to gain knee and motion with the right healing of the ligament. And the functional training for the athletes sport.
