Joints are held together with ligaments. Sometimes a ligament can tear causing a great deal of pain. The anterior cruciate ligament is located at the center of your knee. It prevents your tibia (shin bone) from moving forward onto your femur (thigh bone).
If you tear your ACL, your knee may give out while you are engaged in physical activity. If you dont have this treated, your knee may give out time and again. This can cause early arthritis as well as damage to the cartilage.
ACL Reconstruction can resolve these problems. With this surgery, your damaged ligament can be replaced with new ligament. This ligament may come from a deceased donor (allograft) or from you (autograft).
An autograft is usually taken from the hamstring or the patellar tendon (front of the knee) of the patient.
There are pros and cons to both types of grafts; however, both are usually successful for most people. Talk with your surgeon to find out more.
Click here for more on ACL injury .
Your surgeon will probably use arthroscopy to perform your ACL reconstruction. This type of surgery is usually done using general anesthesia.
When arthroscopy is used, your surgeon will have a clear view of the inside of your knee. He or she will make one small incision to insert a tiny camera into the knee chamber. This camera will send a picture of the interior structure of the knee to a video monitor. In this way, your surgeon can see and repair any problems in the knee at the same time that he or she attends to your ACL damage.
If you are using an autograft, there will be one large incision (also called an open incision) made to remove this tissue. Additionally, your surgeon will access the areas to be worked on via several small incisions around the knee. These will be used to place your new ligament. Your old ligament will be removed, then the surgeon will make bone tunnels to place the new ligament in the same position as the old one. The new ligament will be secured with surgical fasteners such as screws.
When your surgery is done and your incisions have been closed, your knee will be bandaged, and you will be given time to recover from your anesthesia. At this time, you may be able to see the video of your surgery and confer with your surgeon on his or her findings and any concerns or questions you may have in mind.
If you tear your ACL, your knee may give out while you are engaged in physical activity. If you dont have this treated, your knee may give out time and again. This can cause early arthritis as well as damage to the cartilage.
ACL Reconstruction can resolve these problems. With this surgery, your damaged ligament can be replaced with new ligament. This ligament may come from a deceased donor (allograft) or from you (autograft).
An autograft is usually taken from the hamstring or the patellar tendon (front of the knee) of the patient.
There are pros and cons to both types of grafts; however, both are usually successful for most people. Talk with your surgeon to find out more.
Click here for more on ACL injury .
Your surgeon will probably use arthroscopy to perform your ACL reconstruction. This type of surgery is usually done using general anesthesia.
When arthroscopy is used, your surgeon will have a clear view of the inside of your knee. He or she will make one small incision to insert a tiny camera into the knee chamber. This camera will send a picture of the interior structure of the knee to a video monitor. In this way, your surgeon can see and repair any problems in the knee at the same time that he or she attends to your ACL damage.
If you are using an autograft, there will be one large incision (also called an open incision) made to remove this tissue. Additionally, your surgeon will access the areas to be worked on via several small incisions around the knee. These will be used to place your new ligament. Your old ligament will be removed, then the surgeon will make bone tunnels to place the new ligament in the same position as the old one. The new ligament will be secured with surgical fasteners such as screws.
When your surgery is done and your incisions have been closed, your knee will be bandaged, and you will be given time to recover from your anesthesia. At this time, you may be able to see the video of your surgery and confer with your surgeon on his or her findings and any concerns or questions you may have in mind.
About the Author:
Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Click here to learn more about Dr. Edelson, Vancouver ACL Reconstruction and Vancouver Knee Doctor.
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