Orthopedic regenerative sports medicine: info@austinorthobio.com

Facts about ACL injuries!

Facts about Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) facts

  • The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four ligaments in the knee that provides stabilization for the knee joint.
  • Torn ACLs are a common knee injury.
  • An ACL tear or sprain occurs with a sudden change in direction or pivot against a locked knee.
  • A pop, followed by pain and swelling of the knee are the most common symptoms of an ACL tear.
  • Women are more likely to tear their ACL because of differences in anatomy and muscle function.
  • Treatment goals are to return the patient to his or her preinjury level of function. Arthroscopic surgery may be required to reconstruct the torn ligament.
  • It may take six to nine months to return to normal activity after an ACL injury.

 

 
Author
Dr. Kelly Cunningham Physician

You Might Also Enjoy...

Hitting the Slopes This Season?

Dr. Kelly Cunningham, a former US Ski team physician for the men's downhill athletes, weighs in on prevention & care of snow ski injuries.

Thoughts on the BEAR Knee ACL Implant

This novel procedure, still in the early stages of use and follow-up studies, holds great promise for younger, athletic patients. Several questions need to be answered before mainstream use, compared to the "gold standard" of ACL reconstruction.

Patella Cartilage Graft in a Young Athlete

Still symptomatic months after patellofemoral subluxation and arthroscopic debridement/Carticel autograft harvesting - Definitive re-surfacing and re-alignment in a young athlete: Matrix Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI) surgical technique