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Frequently Asked Questions

If my ACL is torn, should I have surgery to repair it?

injuryupdate.com.au - Australia's best information source fo...
a general rule, the body cannot repair a torn ACL if the tear is complete. Partial tears may sometimes heal but often will progress to becoming complete tears. If surgery is needed, the surgeon will not repair the ligament directly, as this has a low success rate, but will instead use a nearby tendon to reconstruct the original ligament. Your future demands in multi-directional sport.
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When should surgery be performed for a torn ACL?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
It is best to wait for the pain and swelling to subside and to allow associated injuries to heal before performing surgery for the ACL. If surgery is done too soon after injury, rehabilitation is difficult. The knee may get stiff and have permanent loss of motion. The athlete will usually get back to sports much more quickly if the knee is allowed to recover from initial injury and to regain its full painless range of motion (usually at least six weeks) before performing surgery.
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What is a torn ACL?

Phoenix Orthopedic Evaluation Arizona Treatment Consultation...
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a ligament in the center of your knee. The ACL gets damaged when twisted too far, which makes it a common injury in relation to sports or other physical activity. ACL Reconstruction is performed using a combination of open surgery and arthroscopic surgery. Before ACL reconstruction process begins, your surgeon will examine your knee arthroscopically, and repair any additional damage to the knee, such as a torn meniscus, or worn articular cartilage.
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My dog has bad hips and a torn ACL. Should I proceed with surgery?

Frequently Asked Questions about knee surgery
Absolutely. The hips are rarely the cause of acute limping. If the ACLs are torn, your pet is only going to get worse.
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What are the signs that an ACL is torn?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
When the ACL tears, the person feels the knee go out of joint and often hears or feels a "pop". If he or she tries to stand on the leg, the knee may feel unstable and give out. The knee usually swells a great deal immediately (within two hours). Over the next several hours, pain becomes more severe and it becomes difficult to walk.
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How will the knee function if the ACL is torn?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
If no structure other than the ACL is injured, the knee usually regains it range of motion and is painless after six or eight weeks. The knee can then feel completely normal. However, it can be a "trick knee". If a knee does not have an ACL it can give way or be unstable when the person pivots or changes direction. The person can usually run straight ahead and ride a bicycle without a difficulty.
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Should my torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) be repaired?

Dr. Prodromos - Chicago (Glenview) orthopedic - knee shoulde...
In most cases, yes. A torn ACL renders the knee unstable in pivoting and jumping. This can lead to cartilage damage and arthritis. ACL reconstruction helps prevent these problems and restore an active lifestyle. If you are older or content with a more sedentary lifestyle, non-surgical treatment may be suitable.
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What is the initial treatment for a knee that may have a torn ACL?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
The initial treatment of the injured joint is to apply ice and gentle compression to control swelling. A knee splint and crutches are used. Medical attention should be sought to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate the entire extremity. X-rays are taken to rule out a fracture. Sometimes an MRI is needed, but usually the diagnosis can be made by physical examination.
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My vet told me my pet has a "torn ACL" and that it should have a TPLO done. What are my options?

Frequently Asked Questions about knee surgery
Not all dogs require TPLO to restore knee function. Dogs weighing less than 40 pounds may have a different technique, often referred to as a "lateral suture technique", that will work equally well. This technique is not for overweight dogs. The recovery is slower but most dogs acheive almost normal function in the limb. This procedure does not work as well in larger dogs.
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How common is ACL injury and the surgery for ACL tears?

Frequently Asked Questions
Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the commonest knee injuries in sports and day-to-day life. It is estimated that around 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 ACL injuries occur per year in United States and roughly around 70,000 ACL reconstructions are performed.
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Is it a must to have reconstruction surgery for ACL tear?

Frequently Asked Questions
ACL tears do not have the capacity to heal by themselves. This is because of the poor blood supply and the presence of joint fluid. Similarly the torn edges of the ligament cannot be sutured together, as this procedure has very high failure rates and has been given up. The ideal way to get back the function of ACL is to have reconstrucion of ACL. Even though patient can manage activities like walking climbing stairs, without ACL.
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Do all ACL tears require surgery?

FAQ Knee - Howard J Luks,MD
No. Many ACL tears can be treated non-operatively. Many factors go into the decision making process. Some patients have ACL tears and no instability symptoms. Others are profoundly symptomatic, even with simple stair climbing, turning and twisting. We do not know why some people are more symptomatic than others, which is why surgery is not the right answer for everybody.
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How invasive is ACL surgery?

Dr. Prodromos - Chicago (Glenview) orthopedic - knee shoulde...
Dr. Prodromos has developed a mini-incision, primarily arthroscopic technique that produces excellent results. The procedure takes roughly 90 minutes and patients go home on the day of surgery.
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How reliable is ACL reconstruction surgery?

Dr. Prodromos - Chicago (Glenview) orthopedic - knee shoulde...
Dr. Prodromos recently completed a long-term follow-up study of over 200 of his ACL reconstruction patients. There were no instances of graft failure in this study.
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What kind of surgery would I have if I damaged the ACL?

Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....
The damaged ACL cannot be sewn back together as it will not heal. A torn ACL will require a reconstructive procedure using transplantable tendons from your body (autografts) such as the hamstring, bone-patella-tendon-bone (BTB) or quadriceps tendons, to reconstruct this torn ligament. Allograft (tissue bank cadaver tissue) tissue is often used with less pain to you and earlier return to function. Both autograft and allograft tendons are acceptable to use for ACL reconstructions.
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Do I need to have surgery on my ACL?

Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Some people are able to function normally without surgery, so long as they have physiotherapy, but others need reconstructive surgery no matter how much physiotherapy they have. Whether or not you have your ACL reconstructed also depends on how active you are, and how your injury impacts on your daily and sporting activities.
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Do all ACL tears need surgery?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
No. Some knees function almost normally despite having a torn ACL. Good knee function is more common in patients who are over thirty years old who are relatively inactive in sports. Patients who are less than twenty-five years old, regardless of activity level, tend to have problems with instability and have frequent episodes of giving way. Therefore, surgical reconstruction of a torn ACL is usually recommended for patients who are less than age twenty-five years.
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What is a torn ACL? MCL?

Frequently Asked Questions
There are four ligaments in the knee: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The ACL and PCL stabilize front-to-back knee movements, while the MCL and LCL stabilize side-to-side movements. The ACL can be sprained or torn if the knee is straightened beyond its normal limits (hyperextended), twisted, or bent side-to-side.
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How can I tell if I have a torn ACL?

ACL FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions about ACL Surgery)
Sometimes it's tough to tell. Even for the doctors. When you tear your ACL it feels a lot "looser" than your good knee. It almost feels like it could pop out of place at any minute. The stability just isn't there. When some people tear their ACL, they hear a "pop" when it happens. It's usually pretty loud and noticeable. This is what happened to me. Although, at the time I had no idea what that "pop" sound meant. If you have a torn ACL it also usually swells up immediately..
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Can I manage my ACL tear without surgery, by means of medicine or massage or exercises?

Frequently Asked Questions
ACL healing cannot be achieved by any internal medicine or external oil massage. Similar attempts to compensate the ACL deficiency by exercising the muscles have also been futile. The dynamic stability offered by the muscle cannot compensate the static stability afforded by the ACL.
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How can a meniscus be torn?

Frequently Asked Questions
The medial and lateral menisci are fixed between the two weight-bearing surfaces within the knee, and as such can become “pinched” by the other structures of the knee between the joint when an injury occurs. Typically, the injury involves twisting on a bent knee. When this happens the menisci can become torn (“torn cartilage”). Any form of physical movement can potentially cause a meniscal tear, although they tend to be associated with sporting activities.
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How invasive is rotator cuff repair surgery?

Dr. Prodromos - Chicago (Glenview) orthopedic - knee shoulde...
At our clinic almost all rotator cuff repairs are performed arthroscopically through quarter-inch portals without any further incision. Patients return home on the day of surgery.
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What is an ACL tear?

FAQ Knee - Howard J Luks,MD
The ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. There are more than 4 major ligaments that essentially hold the knee together. Without one of more of these ligaments the knee would be loose and you would perceive that the knee was giving way or buckling. The ACL is the most commonly torn knee ligament. The ACL is usually torn as the result of a non-contact twisting injury. You will usually feel or hear a pop, the knee will buckle and within a short period of time, significant swelling will occur.
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Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
The most common mechanism is a combination of a sudden stopping motion on the leg while quickly twisting at the knee. The planted foot remains stationary while the body rotates toward the opposite side of the body. This can happen in a sport such as basketball, when a player lands on the leg when coming down from a rebound or is running down the court and makes an abrupt stop to pivot. In football, soccer, or lacrosse, cleats prevent the foot from slipping during this motion.
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For more information, see: Should I have surgery for an ACL injury?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
Recovery from an ACL injury varies with each individual. Your treatment should continue until your knee is stable and strong, not for a certain length of time. ACL injuries in children and teens are less common than in adults, but they do occur, especially in teens. An untreated or unsuccessfully treated ACL injury in children or teens may result in future knee problems. The knee may become more and more unstable and, over time, osteoarthritis may develop.
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Why was it torn down?

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site - Frequently ...
Historically, Fort Union was torn down in 1867 and used to expand Fort Buford. One of the reasons was that the trade was no longer profitable and with many businesses once they start to lose business they move on. There was also hostility from the Lakota Sioux which made trading at Fort Union dangerous to tribes who would come to trade. The final push for Fort Union was to move the remaining operations to Fort Benton where they continued actively with the Blackfeet trade.
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What are the potential benefits of MIP over conventional surgery for ventral hernia repair?

HerniaOptions.com
MIP for ventral hernia repair has significant benefits over conventional surgery. These benefits include a shorter hospital stay and smaller incisions - so you can get back to your life sooner.
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Why is it important to have my surgery at a center with a large experience in mitral valve repair?

Mitral Valve Repair, Reoperation Valve Surgery
Mitral valve repair is the best option for nearly all patients with a leaking (regurgitant) mitral valve and for many with a narrowed (stenotic) mitral valve. Compared to valve replacement, mitral valve repair provides better long-term survival, better preservation of heart function, lower risk of complications, and usually avoids the need for long-term use of blood thinners (anticoagulation). For these reasons, Cleveland Clinic surgeons are committed to mitral valve repair.
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Till what age can a repair surgery like HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY be done?

Frequently Asked Questions
High Tibial Osteotomy when done properly and by an experienced surgeon gives a reliable relief from pain for about 10 to 15 years. While deciding about age limits, we should understand the difference between Chronologcal and Physioogical age. i.e. a person may be 75 years of age but be very healthy and active and hence behave like a 65 year old.
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What is the ACL?

FAQ - What is the ACL ?
There are two large ligaments inside your knee each about the size of your little finger that cross deep inside the joint. They are called the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) and go from the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). They serve to stabilize the knee and allow it to glide through a smooth range of motion as you bend and straighten the leg. The ACL is the ligament in the front and the one most commonly injured.
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