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An ACL tear can happen to people of all ages and professions. However, it has been noticed that women with active lifestyles are more prone to damaging their anterior cruciate ligaments because of their posture, gait, and biomechanics. ACL tear surgery is the reconstruction surgery for repairing the torn ligament and is followed by a comprehensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy regime. Hence, the surgery successfully grants the knee the stability and mobility it had before the injury.
An ACL tear can happen to people of all ages and professions. However, it has been noticed that women with active lifestyles are more ... Read More
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The ACL or anterior cruciate ligament prevents the shinbone from slipping over, or in front of the thigh bone, and gives stability to the knee joint, which makes it one of the most important ligaments in the knee. Injuries in the anterior cruciate ligament are common during athletics, especially in sports that involve movements like leg pivoting, cutting, and planting, and ones that may result in an impact on the knee. This makes players of basketball, soccer, football, skiing, etc quite vulnerable to ACL injury.
A partial or total rupture in the anterior cruciate ligament is known as an ACL tear. The tear can range from mild to severe and can be caused by both contact and non-contact injuries. It is common for athletes and sportsmen to suffer a tear in the ACL because of extreme movements or injuries, However, women are more vulnerable to this injury as compared to men. ACL tears can’t heal by themselves and require special medical attention. The need for specific medical treatments becomes more acute if the injury is severe.
It is suggested that one gets immediate medical help as soon as a tear in the ACL is suspected as the severity and treatment of the injury depend entirely upon its type. A doctor will examine the knee and look for signs of tenderness, inflammation, and swelling. The range of motion and strength of the knee will be examined with the help of passive motion tests.
Physical tests will help the doctor determine if the injury is indeed an ACL tear and the extent of the injury. For this purpose, the Lachman’s Sign test is most commonly preferred. The test is performed as follows.
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The ligaments suffer light damage because of being stretched too much.
The ligament becomes loose because of a severe stretch, or a heavy impact. Grade 2 injuries are considered to be partial ACL tears.
It is referred to as a total or complete ACL tear. The ligament is split into two pieces and the knee joint becomes unstable and immobile.
Anyone can injure their anterior cruciate ligament, but there are a few factors that put some people at a higher risk of such injuries. Such factors may include:
A torn anterior cruciate ligament doesn’t heal on its own, and the symptoms will only worsen if the treatment is delayed or avoided. The consequences of leaving an ACL injury untreated can be dire and may include the following situations.
As with all major surgeries, ACL Reconstruction surgery is associated with some risks and complications of its own. Some general risks that may be associated with any major surgery include excessive bleeding, blood clotting, infections, allergic reactions to anesthesia, postoperative complications, etc.
Some complications which are specifically associated with ACL Reconstruction surgery are listed as follows.
ACL Reconstruction surgery is the gold standard for repairing torn ACLs and has a success rate of over 80 percent. However, it is always better to discuss all the potential risks with your doctor before making a decision.
Myth: ACL tears are caused in sports by blunt force trauma only.
Fact: ACL tears can happen to anyone at any given point in life, but is more common in accidents or sports.
Myth: The knee has to be cut open for ACL reconstruction surgery.
Fact: Traditional open surgeries involve cutting the knee open for surgeries, but advanced arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery involves very small incisions.
Myth: ACL reconstruction surgery leaves huge scars on the knee.
Fact: ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed with minimally invasive techniques that involve small incisions. Because of this, no major scars are caused on the knee.
Myth: You will have to quit sports after an ACL tear.
Fact: After fully recovering from an ACL reconstruction surgery, you will be able to resume sports in due time with the help of physiotherapy and exercise.
Myth: Men suffer ACL injuries more frequently than women,
Fact: Studies show that women are three to four times more likely to suffer an ACL tear.
Immediately after an injury to the knee, one should follow the RICE method to manage the symptoms. The RICE method consists of:
If the ACL tear is not severe and is categorized as a Grade 1 injury by your doctor, it can be treated non-surgically. Nonsurgical treatment for ACL tears may include:
Mild injuries and stretches in the ACL can be treated nonsurgically, but a more severe injury cannot be managed by such methods. A grade 2 or 3 ACL injury requires surgical treatment for reconstruction of the torn ligament. The most popular surgery for doing so is the minimally invasive ACL reconstruction surgery.
The minimally invasive ACL Reconstruction surgery is done with surgical arthroscopy and takes less time than traditional open surgery. In such techniques, smaller incisions are made to minimize trauma at the site of surgery.
The anterior cruciate ligament can’t heal itself, and it can’t be stitched up either if torn. Because of this, to repair a torn ACL, a tissue graft is taken to reconstruct the ligament. The tissue graft can be obtained from:
In some cases, an allograft tissue transplant can also be done. All grafts have their own merits and can be used as a scaffold for the new ligament to grow.
During a minimally invasive ACL reconstruction surgery, 2 or 3 small incisions are made at the side of the knee. An arthroscope, a device with a camera at its end, is inserted through one of the incisions, and a clear image of the inside of the knee is seen on a screen.
Through another incision, surgical tools are inserted to repair the ligament and to remove damaged parts. After the process is completed, the knee joint is washed out with a sterile solution, and the incisions are stitched up.
You will be taken to the recovery room after the surgery to recover from the anesthesia. There, you will remain under observation and your vitals will be closely monitored by your nurse and doctors. It is normal to have some pain and discomfort at the site of surgery. If needed, you can ask your doctor or nurse for painkillers. Most patients are discharged within 24 hours of an ACL Reconstruction. However, in some cases, the patient may need to stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days.
Before your discharge, your doctor will prescribe some antibiotics and painkillers and will suggest an exercise and physiotherapy plan for optimum recovery.
An ACL Reconstruction surgery can cost between INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,50,000, including the cost of hospitalization and post-operative care. The cost of the surgery depends mainly on factors like the general fees of the hospital where the surgery is to be performed, the fees of the surgeons, type of anesthesia used, underlying conditions like liver, lung, or heart diseases, etc.
ACL Reconstruction surgery is recommended to patients when nonsurgical treatment methods have not been effective, and no other alternative is feasible. Most insurance companies cover the cost of an ACL reconstruction surgery to repair a partial or complete tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.
However, the exact details of insurance coverage depend upon the insurance policy of the individual. We accept most major health insurance plans including Star Health Insurance, New India Health Insurance, Bajaj Allianz, Religare, ICICI Lombard, etc and also provide No-cost EMI Options to patients who need assistance with finances for surgery.
India
In rural areas of India, ACL injury has an annual incidence of more than 200,000 cases with 100,000 of these knees reconstructed annually. An estimated 70% of ACL injuries are sustained through noncontact mechanisms, while the remaining 30% result from direct contact
Source- <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4949405/>
Source- <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6924237/>
Global
Source- <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037119/>
Source- <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628627/>
Source- <https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2631764>
Irrespective of the reason you undergo ACL surgery, the goal will remain the same- to restore normal function, stability and movement to the injured knee. ACL reconstruction surgery is typically recommended in the following cases-
If you are suggested ACL reconstruction, you should not delay the surgery as an untreated ACL injury or tear can lead to more potential risks and further injuries. Speak to our expert orthopedic surgeons and get the best advice on the best ACL tear treatment for your case.
If your job involves a regular office setting, you might be able to return to your work within 7-10 days. However, if your job requires a lot of walking, use of heavy machinery, or heavy manual labor, you might be advised to a bit later.
ACL reconstruction has a 90% success rate in terms of stability of the knee joint, patient satisfaction, range of motion, mobility, and return to full activity.
Minimally invasive orthopedic surgeries are relatively safer, as compared to traditional surgeries as they involve smaller surgical incisions and involve less blood loss, risk of infections, or post-operative pain and scar. But even with minimally invasive surgery, there are risks of complications with anesthesia, bleeding, and infection.
Most patients are able to walk without assistance within 2 weeks. However, the ability to walk after ACL reconstruction depends on many factors such as the severity of the injury and the type of surgery performed.
Common conditions and injuries of the knee that can cause knee pain include-
If you have sustained a knee injury and have pain, stiffness, and swelling, it is advised to visit a knee joint specialist doctor the soon as possible.
The doctor may ask you to take a few more tests such as an X-ray and MRI. You can now consult the most trusted orthopedic doctors for ACL tears at Pristyn Care.
The average cost of ACL reconstruction surgery in India can range from INR 1,40,000 to INR 2,20,000 which includes the costs of hospitalization and postoperative management. However, the cost of arthroscopic knee surgery may vary, depending on facts such as
To know more about the cost or procedure of ACL reconstruction surgery, give us a call at 9311583423.
Physiotherapy typically begins 2 to 3 days after ACL surgery.
When you have an ACL injury, you may hear a loud “pop” sound and feel your knee buckle. Within a few hours after an ACL injury, the injured knee may swell up due to bleeding from vessels in the torn ligament. If you think you have an ACL injury and want to meet the best ACL tear doctor, give us a call.
Patients who do not undergo ACL reconstruction surgery are likely to experience further injury to the knee joint, particularly to the meniscus. ACL-deficient patients are also at higher risk for later meniscectomy and over 70% of ACL-deficient patients later experience signs of knee osteoarthritis.
How soon you can return to sports will depend on many factors including the type of graft used, the surgical technique used (knee arthroscopy or open surgery), the specific sport you want to play, and your progress during the recovery period. Typically, the time frame to return to sports can range from 6 to 8 months.
After diagnosis, an orthopedic doctor can provide the best answer for this. In the case of a severe ACL tear, the doctor would suggest you to completely avoid strenuous activities that may cause knee pain. Consult the best orthopedic doctors for an ACL tear at Pristyn Care.
