Is ACL Reconstruction Surgery Safe
The knee joint is the most crucial weight-bearing joint after the hip. It allows us to move about and enjoy our lives to the fullest. In this article, let’s learn everything about ACL injuries, ACL reconstruction surgery and whether the surgery is safe.
What Is ACL?
The ACL is a knee joint ligament, which is a band of soft tissue. This ligament connects the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone). It helps stabilise the knee in conjunction with other ligaments.
Types of ACL Injuries
An intense injury can damage the ACL in three ways. These three ways are Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 in the medical parlance.
Grade 1 denotes the stretching of the ligament beyond its natural capacity while Grade 2 means a partial tear. And, finally, Grade 3 is to indicate a complete or near complete tear.
Causes of ACL Injuries
Major causes of such injuries are pivoting, cutting and sudden movements during intense activities, i.e., exercise, sports or otherwise. Pivoting is twisting the leg firmly footed on the ground. Cutting is to change direction suddenly while running.
Furthermore, landing awkwardly from jumps might also result in ligament tears, especially high jumps.
How Are ACL Injuries Diagnosed?
Soft-tissue injuries are often diagnosed with the help of the following tests.
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- CT Scan
Ultrasound can produce detailed images of soft tissue. Yet, it cannot produce images of internal organs too deep within the skin. So, ultrasound is good only for shallow examinations or images.
For detailed imaging of soft-tissue structures too deep within the body, an MRI test and CT scan are the two most viable options. However, there is one restriction. An MRI test isn’t suitable for a patient who already has metal implants within their body because of the strong magnetism associated.
However, a doctor might also want to examine the conditions of bones in the knee before proceeding with the reconstruction of the ACL. In that case, X-rays might be used. This is the cheapest option to inspect joint bone conditions.
Do All ACL Injuries Require Surgery?
No. Mild stretches or sprains (Grade 1 Injuries) can be handled with rest, immobilisation or bracing, medications, physiotherapy, activity modification and nutritious dietary intake. In other words, Grade 1 injuries are treatable without surgery.
However, ACL reconstruction surgery is required for Grade 2 and Grade 3 injuries. To learn about the cost of the reconstruction surgery, access the link: ACL reconstruction surgery cost.
What Is ACL Reconstruction Surgery?
This is a surgical procedure performed to repair a severely torn ACL.
The surgeon typically reconstructs the ligament with arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive or key-hole surgery. However, if inevitable, the surgeon can also perform an open-knee surgery for the reconstruction.
Under an arthroscopic reconstruction, an arthroscope, or a pencil-thin camera, is used along with other thin instruments. This procedure doesn’t require large incisions but rather a few holes through the affected joint.
The arthroscope helps the surgeon look inside the knee joint. Then, other instruments enable the surgeon to position a graft inside the knee in the same place as the ACL. A graft is a band of soft tissue either taken from the body of the affected person or the donor.
Is ACL Reconstruction Surgery Safe?
It is a successful surgery. Usually, the ACL reconstruction is a minimally invasive procedure. This procedure follows fast recovery and the desired outcomes; however, this dominantly depends on the constitution of the patient undergoing the reconstruction.
In short, a patient with no health issues experiences assured outcomes. Health issues might include the presence of a chronic disease, comorbidity or other complications.
Your surgeon will inform you of everything about the success rate of your ACL reconstruction before the operation. So, for a personalised medical opinion or to know more, consult an orthopedic surgeon first.
However, in general, the surgery has helped many athletes and common people across the world get back to a normal life after the occurrence of severe ACL damage. And, the surgery was totally safe for all of them!
Benefits of ACL Reconstruction Surgery
The surgery has several advantages. Consider the major ones as given below.
Minimally Invasive Procedure: ACL reconstruction surgery is a ligament repair intervention. This is performed mostly in a minimally invasive manner with the help of arthroscopy, which in turn ensures fast recovery and no postoperative complications.
Prevention of Aggravation and Degeneration: This surgery repairs the ligament with a graft, which helps prevent the situation from becoming worse and resulting in the knee joint degeneration.
Restoration of Anatomy: ACL reconstruction surgery helps restore the basic anatomy of the knee joint.
Elimination of Pain: Once the surgery is done and the torn ACL is reconstructed, the pain goes away along with recovery.
Mobility Regained: The surgery restores the ACL, one of the most crucial stabilising factors in the knee. This stability restoration helps regain the full range of knee motion, which improves overall mobility.
Resumption of Active Lifestyle: Consequently, it helps with inactivity. The patient can enjoy an active life once again.
Positivity: Physical activity lays the foundation of a positive and depression-free life.
To book your appointment with the best surgeon, visit the following link: best arthroscopy treatment in Delhi. Get the most effective treatment for ACL injuries.
Tips to Avoid ACL Injuries
The ACL is the most at risk compared to other ligaments. Consider these general tips to avoid severe ACL injuries.
- Don’t stop while running and change direction all of a sudden (or cutting).
- Avoid pivoting (or twisting motions with the leg firmly grounded on the earth).
- Learn the right techniques for cutting and pivoting if you are an athlete.
- Avoid high jumps.
- Refrain yourself from sudden twisting and turning.
- Exercise regularly to strengthen joints, bones and muscles.
- Eat only healthy and anti-inflammatory foods.
- Sleep deficiency and dehydration also act as risk factors. So, avoid these conditions as well.
Ensuring these points will reduce the risks of ACL injuries during high-impact physical activities.
Often athletes engaging in sports like football, soccer, and basketball are most at risk. However, ACL injuries can also be sustained by people who exercise in the GYM regularly or are highly active throughout the day.
When to Consult A Doctor
Sudden twisting or turning can lead to damage in the ACL. If you have recently hurt your knee, ensure R.I.C.E. Rest, Apply Ice to the knee, compress it with compression bandages or a piece of clothing and elevate the leg.
R.I.C.E. is the best first aid after a joint injury during sports or otherwise. If it doesn’t help and the pain and discomfort persist, consult an orthopedic doctor. Ignoring the situation might make it worse and more complicated to be treated or handled.
