What is ACL and how does it tear?

ACl tears are amongst the most common knee ligament injuries. ACL tear is very common in athletes and from CheteshwarPujara to Kieron Pollard to Tiger Woods, there are many top athletes who have suffered this dreaded injury and are back on field after surgery and are still on top of their games. ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament is one of the four main ligaments in the knee which connect your femur [Thigh bone] to your Tibia [Leg bone]. However in our practice the most common cause for ACL tear is road traffic accident and amongst them falling from a two wheeler is the comvvffmonest.

What symptoms will I have if I have an ACL tear?

Patients with ACL tear tend to experience giving way sensation in their knee [instability] and it is especially pronounced when getting downstairs and when the foot lands into a pothole or a ditch. These episodes of instability are excruciatingly painful. Interestingly a person with completely torn ACL may feel completely normal at other times and absolutely pain free except at the times of these slips.

What treatment options are available for ACL tears?

If left untreated a complete ACL tear has devastating effects on the knee even in non-athlete population. Other structures in the knee like the cartilage and menisci also tends to get damaged and leads to early arthritis if left unchecked.

A complete ACL tear shall need an arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery to prevent further damage to the knee and to recover from the episodes of instability.

Disclaimer: These are  general description of the medical condition . This does not constitute medical advice. Each patient is different and the patient's treatment has to be undertaken after consultation with your Orthopaedic Surgeon. These  for patient's information alone and shall not have any legal or treatment implications.