subject: Acl Tears Treated With Anatomic Acl Surgery In Asheboro Nc [print this page] An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is one of the most common injuries to ligaments of the knee treated by orthopedic surgeons in Asheboro NC today. Approximately 100,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed nationwide each year, and people who participate in high-risk sports such as basketball, skiing, soccer and football are generally more likely to require surgery. Strains and sprains - less serious than tears - can generally be treated by the professionals and Sports Medicine with non-surgical means, using rest, pain medication, and physical therapy.
A little about knee anatomy
The bone structure of the knee joint is formed by the femur, the tibia, and the patella, or the thighbone, the shinbone, and the kneecap. The ACL is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur to the tibia. The knee joint is a simple hinge held together by these ligaments, named for their locations and their positional relationships with the other ligaments: the medial collateral, the anterior cruciate, the lateral collateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments.
The anterior cruciate ligament is in the front of the knee, and crosses the posterior cruciate ligament. It runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as providing rotational stability to the knee.
ACL tears
The weight-bearing surface of the knee is covered by a layer of cartilage at the ends of the thigh and shinbones. On either side of the joint, between the cartilage surfaces of the femur and tibia, are the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. These structures act as shock absorbers, and work with the cartilage to reduce stress between the tibia and the femur. When the cartilage and menisci are damaged, knee movement results in pain.
Approximately 50% of anterior cruciate ligament tears occur in combination with damage to the meniscus, articular cartilage, or other ligaments. About 70% of this kind of injuries happen from overuse or misuse of the knee joint, and 30% result from direct contact with another player or object.
Immediately after a tear, which looks like a frayed rope upon MRI examination, patients usually experience swelling and feel pain, and the knee feels unstable. Within a few hours after a new injury, patients often have a large amount of knee swelling, a loss of full range of motion, pain along the joint line, and difficulty walking. Because torn ligaments do not have the capability to repair themselves, surgery is usually required and the professionals in Asheboro are here to help.
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Tears are not usually repaired using sutures to sew it back together, because repaired ACLs generally fail over time. In the reconstruction the anterior cruciate ligament is typically replaced by a substitute graft made of tendon material taken from one of the other joints. Kneecap tendons and hamstrings tendons are common sources of tendon material. The goal of the ACL reconstruction surgery is to prevent instability and restore the function of the torn ligament, creating a stable knee.
Anatomic ACL
Anatomic anterior cruciate ligament is an advanced reconstruction procedure in which the orthopedic surgeon places a grafted substitute tendon in exactly the same position as the damaged anterior cruciate ligament. While difficult to perform, and not yet widely practiced by many orthopedic surgeons, anatomic anterior cruciate ligament surgery has been shown to increase surgery success, shortening recovery time and enhancing return of full function to the knee. This kind of surgery is currently being performed by the experts in Asheboro NC.
An anterior cruciate ligament tear does not have to sideline you permanently. If you are experiencing the pain of a torn ACL, have an orthopedic surgeon see you for an evaluation to see if you are a candidate for Anatomic ACL reconstruction.
