param

ACL Injury

Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and helps stabilise your knee joint. Anterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive forward movement of the lower leg bone (the tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (the femur) as well as limits rotational movements of the knee.

HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? WHAT CAUSES IT?

This injury is most common in athletes who play football, basketball and cricket for a reason-ACL tear happen as a result of

• Sudden directional change
• Slowing down while running
• Landing from a jump incorrectly
• Direct blow to the side of your knee, such as during a football tackle

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

A tear of this ligament can make you feel as though your knees will not allow you to move or even hold you up.

When the tear happens you may hear a popping noise and Within 24 hours you’ll begin to feel severe pain and swelling in your knee and aching or tenderness in the joint.

As the time passes in few days the swelling and pain decreases but Giving away sensation is present especially when they are walking and suddenly taking a turn or while going downstairs or while walking on uneven surface.

DIAGNOSIS

An ACL injury can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination of the knee and diagnostic tests such MRI scans . X-rays may be needed to rule out any fractures.

RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS

Possible risks and complications associated with ACL reconstruction include:

• Numbness
• Infection
• Failure of the graft
• Loosening of the graft
• Decreased range of motion
• Crepitus (crackling or grating feeling of the kneecap)

POST-OPERATIVE CARE

Following the surgery, rehabilitation begins immediately. A physical therapist will teach you specific exercises to be performed to strengthen your leg and restore knee movement.

We have well trained physiotherapy team who continuously work on post-operative patients of ACL reconstruction where we focus on muscular balance proprioception for 6-12 weeks followed by strengthening protocol for next 8-12 weeks.

Those patients who are willing to return to sports are given return to sports rehab for 6-9 months.