ACL Injury

The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is one of the major ligaments or bands of tissue that holds the bones together, providing stability to the knee joint. Injuries or tears of the ACLs are among the most common types of knee injuries. Although more common in athletes, an ACL injury can affect anyone. Such injuries tend to occur when there is a sudden movement or sharp turn during activities like jumping or running. The condition is exceedingly painful and can be debilitating as it becomes tough to apply any pressure on the injured knee even for activities like walking.

Causes for ACL Injury

Add a section explaining various causes for the injury.

The ACL is a ligament that connects the thighbone to the shinbone, stabilizing the knee joint. This makes it vulnerable to injury during any high-stress activity on the knee, making it most common in athletes. Causes for ACL injury include:

• Sudden change in direction or slowing down while running
• Twisting or turning your body while your foot remains in place
• Awkward landing when jumping
• Impact injury to the knee

Damage to the ACL usually involves a partial or complete tear of the ligament, but in mild cases, the ligament may simply be stretched. Some factors may increase the risk of an ACL injury. These include:

• Your gender as women is more vulnerable
• High contact or strenuous sports
• Poor form or movement when exercising
• Poorly fitted footwear
• Use of poor-quality gym or sports equipment
• Playing on artificial turf

Symptoms for ACL Injury

In most cases, ACL injury symptoms will include the following:

• Popping sound or sensation from the injured knee
• Sudden or immediate onset of pain
• Debilitating pain and loss of mobility in the joint
• Quick onset of swelling
• Loss of stability in the knee

Risks & Complications

If you experience any symptom of a knee injury or ACL tear, it is important to seek immediate treatment. This is because the joint is a complex structure and injury to any of the ligaments, tendons, or tissues can impair mobility and increase the risk of further injury. A quick diagnosis will allow doctors to determine the extent of the injury and provide timely treatment.

When an ACL injury is not treated promptly it can increase the risk of complications that are long-lasting. An ACL injury is associated with an increased risk for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The risk of arthritis is also influenced by the extent of the original injury and levels of activity after treatment.

Know your Surgeon

Orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists are the ideal health care professionals to treat any kind of knee injury, whether a mild ACL injury or ACL tear. For minor ACL injuries, they may only recommend first aid treatments, reducing pressure on the joint with the use of crutches or knee braces, and anti-inflammatory or pain medications.

If required, orthopedic surgeons may recommend arthroscopic surgery for ACL reconstruction. This can be done using a variety of techniques and orthopedic specialists will be the best judge of the appropriate treat-ment as care must be individualized to suit your levels of physical fitness and activity levels.

Book an Appointment

To get the best possible care for any kind of knee injury or to undergo ACL knee surgery, connect with our team of orthopedic specialists for more information. The earlier you reach out to make an appointment the better your chances of a speedy recovery with a lower risk of complications.

To book an appointment, click here.

Facilities we provide

LB Nagar Aware Gleneagles Global Hospital is regarded as one of the best destinations for any kind of ACL knee surgery because of our highly qualified team of orthopedic surgeons. During ACL knee surgery to reconstruct the ligament, orthopedic surgeons will remove the damaged section of the ligament, replacing it with a tendon. This is called a graft procedure and will be performed using a piece of tendon from another part of the knee or from a donor.

Our ACL tear treatments have high success rates with patients receiving the best possible pre and post-operative care. After surgery, patients must also undergo rehabilitative therapy to ensure that they once again enjoy complete joint function and stability.