Search 5,000,000+ questions and answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
Related Questions

How is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgically repaired?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
Surgical reconstruction of a torn ACL involves replacing the torn ACL with a tendon (called a graft) from another part of the knee and putting it into a position to take the place of the torn ACL. The most commonly used graft is taken from the middle third of the patellar tendon (the tendon connecting the knee cap to the tibial bone). Hamstring tendon grafts taken from the inner thigh to the back of the knee are also used.
Related Questions

What is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)?

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. A ligament is a tough band of fibrous tissue, similar to a rope, connecting the bones together at a joint. There are two ligaments on the sides of the knee (collateral ligaments) that give stability to sideways motions: the medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outer side of the knee.
Related Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
The ACL is a ligament in the middle of the knee that connects the tibia (shinbone) to the fibia (thighbone).
Related Questions

What is the function of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)?

injuryupdate.com.au - Australia's best information source fo...
The ACL is the most important structure in the knee for providing stability during sporting activities which involve changing of direction while moving at speed (including football, tennis, skiing). If the knee is unstable, cartilage wear & tear occurs at a much faster rate than normal which leads to arthritis of the knee joint. An ACL tear is one of the commonest serious injuries in sport - for example, in the AFL, 12% of all matches missed due to injury are from ACL tears.
Related Questions

Is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) covered on my policy?

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) - Dog Insurance, Cat Insuranc...
Yes. We do offer benefits for ACL. The policy has to be in force for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before diagnosis.
Related Questions

What is the anterior cruciate ligament?

FAQ
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of two ligaments that are inside the knee. This ligament is frequently injured in sports. When the ACL is torn, the knee will often be unstable and it will be impossible to play sports that involve cutting, running, and jumping. Surgical and rehabilitation advances have made the ACL injury less of a threat to athletic careers than it used to be.
Related Questions

Beverly Hills Medical Group, 57 Paseo de Roxas Street, Makat...
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is situated toward the front of the knee. It is the ligament that is frequently injured. Oftentimes, the ACL is stretched and/or torn in the course of a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way). Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
Related Questions

Should I have surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are caused when the knee is straightened beyond its normal limits (hyperextended), twisted, or bent side to side. Changing direction quickly or cutting around an obstacle or another player with one foot solidly planted on the ground (as can happen in sports that put high demand on the ACL such as basketball, football, soccer, hockey, and gymnastics).
Related Questions

What is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, injury is a tear in one of the knee ligaments that joins the upper leg bone with the lower leg bone. The ACL keeps the knee stable. See a picture of the knee and the ACL . Injuries range from mild, such as a small tear, to severe, such as when the ligament and part of the bone separate from the rest of the bone. Without treatment, the injured ACL is less able to control knee movement, and the bones are more likely to rub against each other.
Related Questions

How does an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury occur?

Frequently Asked Questions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)...
Injuries to the ACL can occur in several ways, usually without contact. High speed twists, bending or extending the knee beyond its normal range, or landing "wrong" from a jump may result in an ACL tear. Basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer players, as well as skiers and snowboarders are particularly vulnerable. Female athletes are more prone to ACL injury than males.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

What is the posterior cruciate ligament?

Beverly Hills Medical Group, 57 Paseo de Roxas Street, Makat...
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is found near the back of the knee. It is another knee ligament that is commonly injured. Conversely, the PCL injury typically happens with abrupt, direct impact, such as in a car accident or during a football tackle.
Related 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.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

I have a torn rotator cuff. Should it be repaired?

Dr. Prodromos - Chicago (Glenview) orthopedic - knee shoulde...
Most torn rotator cuffs should be repaired. Repair results are best when the tears are small. If left as is, the tears often grow, and if they become too big, may become irreparable.
Related Questions

Sports Medicine, Therapy, Rehabilitation and Surgery- Mass G...
Most rotator cuff tears can be repaired surgically by reattaching the torn tendon(s) to the humerus. This can be accomplished either arthroscopically or through a formal open procedure. Sutures are attached to the torn tendons. Tiny holes are made in the humerus where the tendons were attached and the sutures are passed through the bone and tied, securing the rotator cuff tendons back to the humerus. The tendons heal back to the bone, reestablishing the normal tendon-to-bone connection.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

My doctor told me I've injured my cruciate ligament. Does this mean I have to have surgery?

Frequently Asked Questions
Not all cruciate ligament injuries need to be reconstructed. You need to discuss with your doctor your lifestyle and level of activity. If you have a sedentary-type job and are not active in your leisure time, you may not require surgery.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

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..
Related Questions

Can surgery significantly help a damaged cruciate ligament?

F.A.Q.
Your dog will do better in the long run if you have the surgery performed. The arthritis that is present is irreversible; but with surgery, the progression can be slowed or halted. Additionally, substantial cartilage damage will continue to occur until the knee is properly stabilized. This damage could result in marked worsening of your dog's lameness.
Related Questions

What is Ligament Repair?

Beverly Hills Medical Group, 57 Paseo de Roxas Street, Makat...
Ligament repair is effective in restoring the normal function of joints or adjacent tissues after ligament laceration. Ligament damage usually happens from sports injury. A torn ligament critically restricts knee movement, resulting in a person’s incapacity to pivot, turn or twist the leg. Those individuals who are not able to resume normal activities with medical treatments for a torn ligament may have a ligament repair surgery.
Related Questions

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.
Related Questions

Got A Question? Ask Our Community!


More Questions >>

© Copyright 2007-2008 QueryCAT
About • Webmasters • Contact