Details of ACL Reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is surgery to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This is mostly performed for sportsmen. In this procedure the torn ligament is removed and replaced with a piece of tendon from another part of your knee or from a deceased donor. This surgery is an outpatient procedure that's performed through small incisions around your knee joint.

• Loss of range of motion.
• Rapid swelling.
• Instability with weight bearing.
• Severe pain.
• Inability with movement.
• Sensation in the knee.
• Numbness.

• Suddenly slowing down and changing direction (cutting).
• Pivoting with your foot firmly planted.
• Landing from a jump incorrectly.
• Stopping suddenly.
• Receiving a direct blow to the knee.

• Physical examination.
• Imaging tests
• Blood tests

To treat these kind of conditions grafts are used which are of following types:

• Autografts (employing bone or tissue harvested from the patient's body).
• Allografts (using bone or tissue from another body, either a cadaver or a live donor).
• Bridge-enhanced ACL repair (using a bio-engineered bridging scaffold injected with the patient's own blood).
• Synthetic tissue for ACL reconstruction has also been developed, but little data exists on its strength and reliability.

Which worsens ACL injury more:

• Playing on artificial turf surfaces.
• Using poorly maintained sports equipment.
• Poor conditioning.
• Sports, such as soccer, football, basketball, gymnastics and downhill skiing.

• Persistent pain.
• Instability.
• Joint swelling.
• Infection.
• Reconstruction failure.