The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments that help keep the knee stable, allowing for proper function and mobility. When the ACL is injured through sports or from forceful impact (such as with an accident or sudden sharp movement of the leg at an awkward angle), an orthopedic surgeon typically has to repair the torn ligament through surgery.
ACL Treatment
During ACL treatment, an orthopedic surgeon will typically use a graft to repair the tear. A graft is a piece of a tendon or ligament taken from another part of the body and used to repair the damaged ACL. In most cases, surgeons will use an autograft, which is tissue that comes from the patient’s own body, usually from a hamstring or the knee. Another type of graft used during ACL treat treatment is known as an allograft, where the tissue used is taken from a cadaver donor.
ACL reconstruction is usually performed with arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure where several small incisions are made around the knee joint. An orthopedic surgeon will then insert an arthroscope, a surgical tool with a small light and camera attached at the end, into this incision. The arthroscope allows the surgeon to see the inside of the joint via images projected onto a video screen in the operating room, helping them to graft the donor tissue to the damaged ACL.
Once ACL surgery has been completed, patients can expect to begin the rehabilitation process with a series of exercises in the recovery room. The first one to two weeks of rehabilitation are usually geared towards minimizing swelling and regaining full knee extension.Next read more about knee surgery in Los Angeles.
Next read more about knee surgery in Los Angeles.
