The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the thigh bone to the shinbone, ensuring regular and proper movements. Injury to the ACL impacts your ability to move the knee joint.
Usually, it happens to people involved in sports and other physical activities that require sudden twisting and turning of the knee or a jerk on the leg that tears the ACL. Depending on the severity of the tear, you might need knee replacement surgery in Mumbai. Here’s what causes ACL injury and how it impacts your life.
Causes of ACL Injury
Your ACL consists of the tissues that cushion your knee joint and support movements. The risk of ACL injury is higher in people involved in physical sports or fitness activities that put extreme pressure on their knee joints.
Sports like basketball and football require sudden pivoting and twisting of the knee. Likewise, weight-lifting and other strenuous physical activities can put stress on your knee joint and might tear the ACL. The injury can also occur due to an automobile accident.
Impact of Knee Injury
An injured ACL restricts knee movement. You may not be able to continue physical activity or even walk properly. Swelling develops around the injured area within a few hours and usually gets worse. The severity of the pain depends on the level of damage to the knee joint. When an ACL injury occurs, the patient experiences a popping sound.
However, that could indicate other knee injuries. So, it’s best to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. If the knee joint remains untreated for a long time, the patient is at an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. Eventually, knee surgery in Mumbai will be required to reconstruct the injured ligaments.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and conduct physical tests to diagnose ACL tear. They might also evaluate other parts of your knee joint, as an ACL tear mostly occurs with damage to the cartilage and other ligaments. X-rays and MRI are the most common imaging tests used to detect injured ACL.
ACL injury is classified into three grades.
Grade 1:
Mild injury to the ligament. Knee stability isn’t compromised
Grade 2:
Stretched ligaments, although the ligaments are not completely torn.
Grade 3:
Complete tearing of the ACL joint and unstable knee joint.
Treatment Options
If you suspect a knee cruciate ligament injury, see your doctor immediately to rule out the possibility of a complete ACL torn or other complications. Using ice packs to reduce swelling and taking pain-relief medication, like ibuprofen, can help reduce swelling and pain.
You might be advised to take a break from physical activity and use a walking aid to provide support to your damaged joint. Physical therapy can also help restore your knee movements. However, if it’s a third-grade tear, surgery might be the last resort.
ACL reconstruction surgery involves replacing the damaged ligament with ACL graft tissue. Your healthcare provider will evaluate the damage and recommend the most suitable treatment based on your symptoms.
