Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
Description:
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments in the knee. The ACL connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and functions to stabilize the knee. Although the ACL is not necessary for simple activities such as walking, a functioning ACL is required to participate in activities that involve cutting, twisting, or pivoting. Injuries to the ACL may occur following sudden acute, twisting episodes. ACL injuries are sometimes associated with concomitant injuries to the meniscus (see Meniscus Tears).
Signs & Symptoms:
Typically patients report hearing or feeling a “pop” at the time of injury. Usually patients notice significant swelling over the next 24-48 hours. Although the pain and swelling may decrease, patients with ACL tears often report that their knee feels unstable or “gives out” with certain activities.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of an ACL tear is typically made by a combination of the patient’s history, the findings on physical examination, and an MRI scan.
Treatment:
Due to the lack of blood supply to the ACL, injuries to the ACL do not heal on their own. In addition, tears of the ACL cannot be repaired by stitching the edges of the tear together. Tears of the ACL must be treated by a surgical reconstruction; in other words, a tissue from somewhere else (either a tissue from your body (called an autograft) or from a cadaver donor (called an allograft)) must be taken and placed in the location of the ACL to create a new ACL. For more information about autograft and allograft tissue, please go to the ACL graft selection page. Surgeons at Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Specialists perform this procedure using some of the latest cutting-edge techniques.
To view a video animation showing ACL reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone, click here and select the knee menu.
For more information about ACL tears and treatment options, please feel free to talk to one of the doctors at Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Specialists.