Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture, Injury and Surgery

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a surgical procedure that creates a new ligament to replace the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the fundamental ligaments of our knee. ACL injuries usually occur during sports that require sudden movements or changes of direction.

A torn ACL cannot be stitched back together. Therefore, a new ACL is made with a ligament taken from another part of our leg. This surgery is usually performed using an arthroscope and special hand tools through several small incisions made around the knee joint.

Is ACL reconstruction necessary?

Ligaments are strong tissue connections that connect one bone to another. ACL is one of the two ligaments that cross the middle of the knee and helps stabilize the knee by connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone.

Not everyone with an ACL injury requires surgery. Patients who engage in activities and sports that do not require sudden stops, jumps, or changes of direction and who have a sedentary lifestyle may benefit from physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Your doctor may recommend ACL surgery in the following cases:

If you are engaged in a sport that requires jumping, cutting, and pivoting movements.

If you have multiple ligament or cartilage injuries in your knee.

If you are young and active.

If the injury causes stumbling and falling during daily activities such as climbing stairs.

What are the risks of ACL surgery?

As with other surgical procedures, there may be bleeding and infection, as well as joint pain, weakness, and stiffness, although these are not common.

The graft (ligament placed in place of the ACL) may not heal completely.

Symptoms may persist even after the surgery.

Preparation for ACL surgery

Several weeks of physiotherapy may be required to ensure full range of motion in the knee before surgery. Patients who enter surgery with a stiff and swollen knee may have difficulty regaining full range of motion after surgery.

If you are taking a regular blood thinner, your doctor may ask you to stop taking it at least a week before surgery.

ACL surgery and after

ACL surgery is usually performed under spinal anesthesia (numbing below the waist). You may be able to observe the stages of the surgery. The surgery can be performed with small incisions made on the skin and with the help of a camera and special hand tools inserted through these holes.

After the torn ligament is removed, the doctor usually places a tendon piece taken from another part of your leg in its place. The graft passed through tunnels opened in the appropriate places in the thigh and shin bones is fixed with special screws or other fastening materials.

You can eat after the effects of anesthesia wear off. Rehabilitation begins immediately after surgery. You will need to use crutches and special knee braces for a while. To reduce swelling and pain, you will need to apply ice, compression, and elevate your leg starting in the hospital and continuing at home...