ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Tear

ACL injuries are highly common in athletes and other active individuals. With experience and access to the most advanced technology available, the board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Austin Sports Medicine offer ACL treatment at their offices in Austin, Bee Cave, Cedar Park, or Pflugerville, Texas. The ACL plays an essential role in your overall mobility. To learn more about ACL injuries and how to treat them, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online now.

What is the ACL?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the ligaments that connects the femur to the tibia. While all of the ligaments in your knee work together to support your mobility, the ACL’s primary responsibility is to keep the tibia from sliding in front of the femur. 

Without a healthy ACL, your knee doesn’t have the stability it needs to support your body. The instability caused by a torn ACL can also lead to increased cartilage damage (arthritis of the knee) and meniscus tears.

What causes an ACL injury?

ACL damage typically occurs from abrupt and abnormal bending of the knee. Injuries to this critical ligament are especially common in athletes that participate in contact sports and activities that place a lot of demand on the knee. 

Many individuals experience ACL injuries when:

• Stopping too quickly
• Turning suddenly or abruptly
• Landing in an awkward position while jumping
• Collision or direct impact
  

While anybody can develop an ACL injury, women are at an increased risk due to muscle strength and anatomy.

What are the symptoms of an ACL injury?

Considered a type of sprain, an ACL injury can range in severity. Some injuries are minor, with a short recovery period, while others are extremely painful and immobilizing. Common symptoms of an ACL injury include:

• Severe pain
• Difficulty walking
• Pain when stretching the leg
• Low flexibility
• Lost range of motion
• Instability
• A popping sound
• Swelling
  

ACL injuries typically occur suddenly, and without warning. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you can get on the road to recovery.

What are the treatments for ACL injuries?

The initial treatment for an ACL injury involves a thorough history and physical exam. Early after an injury, immobilization techniques, such as bracing, can help with your mobility and prevent further damage after an ACL injury. Radiographs of the knee are taken in the office to look for associated injuries, such as fractures. An MRI of the knee is then ordered to confirm the diagnosis and to look for other ligament, cartilage and meniscus injuries.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, physical therapy is started to regain ROM, strengthen the muscles surrounding your ACL and enhance your flexibility. 

For most young patients, an ACL reconstruction is typically recommended to restore stability to the knee joint and prevent additional cartilage and meniscus injury. That said, there are many factors that go into the decision making regarding operative versus non-operative management.

When indicated, the ACL reconstruction procedure involves removing the injured ligament and replacing it with a tissue graft - typically a tendon. Over time, the graft is incorporated and takes the place of the original ligament. 

To learn more about ACL injury treatments, call Austin Sports Medicine or schedule an appointment online today. The team looks forward to working with you.