ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament of the knee. The knee is the largest and most complex joint in your body. It depends on four primary ligaments as well as multiple muscles, tendons and secondary ligaments to function properly.
There are two ligaments on the sides of the knee: the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL), and two crossed ligaments in the centre of the knee, the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL). The ACL connects the front top part of the shin bone to the back bottom part of the thigh bone and keeps the shin bone from sliding forward.
One of the common ways for the ACL to be injured is by a direct blow to the knee, which commonly happens in football. In this case, the knee is forced into an abnormal position that results in the tearing of one or more knee ligaments. However, most ACL tears actually happen without contact between the knee and another object. Such non-contact injuries happen when the running athlete changes direction or hyperextends their knee when landing from a jump. These movements are common to all agility sports.
In many cases, when the ACL is torn, you will feel the knee give way with an audible pop. The injury is usually associated with a moderate amount of pain and continued activity is usually not possible. Over the next several hours, the knee becomes very swollen and walking becomes difficult. The swelling and pain usually increase over the first two days and then begin to gradually subside.
Discomfort after an ACL tear is usually severe enough that the injured person will seek medical attention. The physician will examine the knee, and, in most cases, be able to identify which ligaments are injured. However, there may also be injuries to the joint surface that are more difficult to diagnose. At times, swelling may make it difficult to diagnose a tear. This will necessitate the use of an MRI scan to ensure that an accurate diagnosis is made.
The most frequent question after an ACL injury is ‘Will I need surgery?’ The answer varies from person to person. Many factors must be considered by the patient and the physician when determining the appropriate treatment. These factors include the activity level and expectations of the patient, the presence of associated injuries (cartilage tears, etc.) and the amount of abnormal knee laxity.
A young patient with an ACL tear and knee laxity who wants to return to sports or an active lifestyle is more likely to require surgery for a satisfactory outcome. The older patient who can return to limited activity is less likely to require surgical stabilisation. In either scenario, rehabilitation of the knee begins with exercises to help restore full range of motion. This is followed by strengthening exercises for the muscles around the knee. Return to sports with or without a brace is allowed only after leg strength, balance, and coordination have returned to near normal.
Long-term research studies have shown that a non-functioning ACL due to complete tear results in future damage to the joint (meniscus tears, arthritis) and hence, early surgery to reconstruct a new ACL is the preferred treatment.
Many different surgical approaches have been developed for the ACL injured knee. Years of experience have shown that simply stitching the ligament together is rarely successful. Therefore, current techniques involve reconstructing the ACL by building a new ligament out of tissue harvested from one of the other tendons around the knee. This tissue is passed through drill holes in the thigh bone and shin bone and then anchored in place using implants to create a new ACL. Over time this graft matures and becomes a living ligament in your knee.
Rehabilitation of the knee after ACL reconstruction requires time and hard work. Time off from work varies depending on job type. Desk job employees can return in one or two weeks, whereas construction workers usually are not able to return for approximately one month. Athletes are allowed sports after 4 to 6 months. The rate of rehabilitation may take even longer, depending on the specific requirements of the individual’s sport/activity and rate of recovery.
The overall success rate for ACL surgery is very good. Many studies have shown that over 98% of patients are able to return to sports and workplace activities without symptoms of knee instability. Although some patients do complain of stiffness and pain after surgery, these problems have been minimised by current surgical techniques.
View Doctors
