ACL Tear Treatment in India | Arthroscopic Surgery

Pristyn Care leverages advanced and cost-effective ACL reconstruction surgery to repair torn ligaments. Our clinics and hospitals are well equipped with advanced medical technologies to make treatment safe and effective. Each patient’s severity is different, as the tear can widely range from mild to severe depending on the type of injury. Our orthopedic surgeons are extensively experienced in performing advanced and minimally invasive arthroscopy in order to restore the normal function of the knee joint. You can also book your appointment with one of our best orthopedic doctors to get effective ACL reconstruction surgery. 

Diagnosis before ACL repair

The orthopedist conducts a thorough diagnosis that includes a physical examination. During the physical examination, the doctor assesses the tenderness, swelling, and inflammation in the affected area. The doctor may also suggest passive motion tests to check the severity of the torn ligament. There are a few diagnostic tests an orthopedist would recommend to get the clarity of the ACL tear in order to suggest the best-suited treatment to repair it. Some of the diagnostic tests are- 

• Lachman’s Sign Test– In this test, the doctor holds the affected leg to bend it gently about 30 degrees. By doing this, the doctor can examine the intensity of the pain in the affected knee joint. 
• X-Rays- This is usually recommended to get a clear image of the affected knee joint to check the injury on the bones. 
• MRI- This is done to get a clear image of torn ligaments and tissues. 

Procedure of  ACL reconstruction surgery

Treatment for ACL injuries can be performed via physiotherapy in some cases, but in most cases, surgery is the only viable treatment option to regain limb movement. ACL surgery, or ACL reconstruction, involves the surgeon removing the damaged ligament and replacing it with a tendon graft to restore complete joint function. Surgery is followed by intense physiotherapy to reduce the chances of re-injury, especially in athletes. Doctors evaluate the joint’s strength, stability, and movement patterns before allowing the patients to return to their sport. A longer rehabilitation period is often linked with a lower chance of recurrence of the injury.

Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery is a minimally invasive technique to repair a torn ligament. It is performed by an orthopedist specializing in arthroscopy. The success rate of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is higher as compared to conventional surgical techniques. Minimally invasive surgery is often preferred over open surgery because it uses smaller incisions and causes less harm to the surrounding tissues, making recovery much smoother and faster. This surgical procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and has a faster recovery duration. In addition, the patient can resume work within a shorter span of time in contrast to traditional ACL tear surgery. 

Ligaments do not receive adequate blood supply to heal on their own. Therefore, ACL injuries do not heal on their own. If left untreated, they will progressively get worse and lead to:

• Instability of the knee joint: An injured ACL joint cannot sustain any weight and progressively becomes more and more unstable till the knee becomes too unstable to even walk.
• Pain: ACL injuries are riddled with pain. Without treatment, the pain increases over time, and the knee swells up so much that the person starts having difficulty even moving it.
• Disability: Without due treatment, the knee joint permanently loses its ability to bend and straighten, leading to permanent disability.
• Arthritis: As the ligament cannot function properly in an ACL injury, its functional load is born by the surrounding tissues such as bones, tendons, and muscles. This additional strain can promote arthritis development in many people.

Typically, rehabilitation for ACL injuries lasts for around 4-5 weeks, but since athletes put more strain on their joints, they need longer rehab periods for better movement and to prevent the recurrence of the injury.

Rehabilitation for knee injuries mainly focuses on treating the injury and providing the patient with the desired range of motion for the joint. The treatment is performed with three goals in mind:

• Stabilizing the joint to promote healing
• Strengthening the joint to increase the range of motion of the joint
• Increasing joint flexibility to decrease the chances of re-injury following the return to sports

Most athletes can start training for their sports about 4-6 months after the ACL surgery, but doctors recommend full rehabilitation before they start participating in the sports again. The rehabilitation period can be divided into:

• Phase 1: 3-4 months after surgery- Regain strength and improve the flexibility of the joint
• Phase 2: 4-6 months after surgery- Low-level fitness and performance agility drills
• Phase 3: 5-8 months after surgery- Jumping exercises
• Phase 4: 6-9 months after surgery- Single-leg jumping exercises with sports-specific cutting
• Phase 5: 9-12 months post-surgery- Steadily increase sports drills till former skill is achieved while focusing on preventing re-injury

Mr. Rahul Sharma (named changed) suffered a sports injury and contacted Pristyn Care by calling the number mentioned on the website. He informed our medical coordinator about pain and swelling in his left knee. 

Our coordinator booked his appointment with one of our orthopedic experts, Dr. Ashish Taneja. Mr. Sharma took a video consultation for a detailed discussion about the condition. Dr. Taneja later scheduled a physical examination to check the tenderness in the affected area and the severity of the condition. He also recommended a few diagnostic tests to Mr. Sharma, such as an MRI scan and X-ray for clear pictures of any damaged tissues or bone in the knee joint. 

After getting the results of the tests, Dr. Taneja diagnosed him with a Grade 3 ACL tear in which the ligament was severely damaged. In addition, he advised arthroscopy to reconstruct the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in order to restore mobility and quality of life.

Mr. Sharma was kept under observation post ACL repair surgery for 2 days in the hospital. He got discharged when he didn’t show any odd signs post-surgery. Dr. Taneja scheduled two follow-up consultations and recovered successfully post ACL tear surgery.