Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the basic anatomical structures that is frequently affected in sports injuries and provides knee joint stability. Since the injured ACL does not have the ability to heal spontaneously, it must be surgically reconstructed in order to maintain its function. By providing normal knee kinematics with the applied surgery, the development of arthrosis in the future knee is prevented. If the patient does not prevent abnormal movement in the knee by performing surgery after ACL injury, pain and limitation of movement in the knees will be inevitable over the years.

What are the symptoms of anterior cruciate ligament injuries?

During sports or trauma, a sudden rupture sensation in the patient's knee, severe pain and swelling in the knee occur due to bleeding from the ruptured ligament. The athlete can not continue the competition and has to leave it halfway. The patient may say that he feels a pop in the knee during sports. After the pain and swelling subside over time, there is a feeling of emptiness and insecurity in the knee when making sudden turns and descending the stairs. In sportive activities, serious knee discharge attacks occur when stopping suddenly and landing on the ground after jumping. In the chronic period, there is usually no pain or swelling during these attacks. If there is pain and swelling, accompanying meniscus injury and cartilage damage come to mind.

How is the diagnosis made in anterior cruciate ligament injury?

The history of the event is very important in the patient with suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury. In the early period, it is often difficult to perform adequate examination due to swelling and limitation of motion in the knee. Re-examination is necessary 7 to 10 days after injury. Most of the time, it is possible to diagnose with examination, but it is necessary to clarify the diagnosis with imaging. The most valuable diagnostic method at our disposal is MR imaging. It would be wise to perform X-ray imaging in the early period to investigate any fractures that may be seen after trauma.

Anterior cruciate ligament surgery process

The surgery can be performed with general anesthesia or regional anesthesia. In this preference, the patient's wish is more important, although the accompanying diseases of the patient are evaluated. With preoperatively placed epidural catheter or peripheral nerve block applications, postoperative pain control is ensured and the patient does not feel the pain associated with surgery in the early period. The operation takes an average of 1.5 hours. Surgery is performed arthroscopically. Tissue (graft) is usually taken from the patient for the newly formed ligament. These are usually a hamstring graft taken from the inside of the back of the knee or a patellar tendon graft taken from the front of the knee.

Post-operative process

The hospital stay after surgery is 1-3 days. It is possible to stand up with the help of crutches after the effect of anesthesia wears off. The rehabilitation program to be applied to the patient is tailored to the patient, depending on the procedures performed. The tissue taken from the patient's leg does not cause disruption in daily or sports activities.