The following is a guest post. and does not represent services or advice from Mobile Health
Anterior Cruciate Ligament repair is a form of orthopedic surgery. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is located in the middle of the knee joint and connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It is this ligament that plays a key role in stabilizing the knee.
Injuries to the ACL, also known as ACL blowout, usually happen during sports activity or when the knee is subjected to a range of stress. Women are more likely to suffer from ACL damage than men, although the reason for this is unknown. Not everyone needs ACL surgery as, even with an injured ACL, individuals are still able to perform day to day activities. But who benefits from orthopedic surgery to repair the ACL?
The Injury
Damage to the ACL usually occurs in athletes during sport, when the foot is on the ground and an individual is knocked or trying to cutback, or twist position, causing undue stress on the ACL which causes it to blow out. Sometimes an individual may hear their ligament pop, and the athlete is unable to continue playing.
Within the 24 hours following injury, the individual may experience pain and swelling, which can make it difficult for a doctor, trainer or physiotherapist to examine the ligament and identify the level of damage caused. The swelling normally reduces enough over the next week to allow the ACL to be examined and tested.
Who Benefits from ACL surgery?
ACL damage probably won’t affect day to day activities of an individual. However, if you injured yourself playing sport and want to continue to play sport, you will probably want to undergo orthopedic surgery to reconstruct the ligament. Reconstruction will enable you to change directions without your knee slipping or giving way.
Even if you are not a sportsperson, recent studies show that people who don’t have their damaged ACL reconstructed could be at greater risk of meniscus tears, early arthritis and cartilage damage, due to the reduced support of the joint system as a result of the ligament damage.
- A child or young adult under 18 should have their ACL repaired via orthopedic surgery to enable them to lead active lives and to reduce further damage in the future.
- People who are active in their day to day lives, such as laborers, athletes and recreational athletes, will also benefit greatly from the surgery, which will enable athletes to continue to play sport and laborers to lift and carrying heavy objects.
- Additionally, anyone, of any age, no matter how much physical activity they do, who experience repeated episodes of their knee giving out and who have not responded to non-surgical treatment for their damaged ACL would benefit greatly from ACL reconstruction surgery.
The long term benefits of undergoing orthopedic surgery to repair damaged ACLs are becoming increasingly documented. Most surgeons address ACL damage with surgery that uses tendon material from the patella tendon or the hamstring to replace the torn ligament. As orthopedic surgery develops, new techniques allow for the procedure to be minimally invasive, which avoids the necessity for open incisions and the need for a full leg cast following the procedure. In some cases patients don’t even need a leg brace following surgery and are able to tolerated bearing weight straight after surgery.
Many individuals opt to undergo orthopedic surgery abroad, especially if the procedure is not covered by medical insurance. Some larger hospitals in countries such as Mexico offer high quality, and cutting edge techniques that allow individuals to regain the ability to undergo surgical procedures in a warm and safe environment, at a fraction of the cost.
