What is ACL Reconstruction?
Injuries are a common aspect of life, and the knee joint plays a crucial role in balance, movement, and stability. A sudden twist or fall during a game, a run, or a simple misstep can cause ACL tearing, a major ligament in the knee joint. Whether it’s a sudden fall or twist, it’s more than just discomfort and affects your confidence and overall well-being, making a simple move challenging; however, when the knee loses its stability, it’s not the end. ACL repair is a pathway to regain strength at Yashoda Hospitals, towards stronger steps.
We at Yashoda Hospitals understand your struggle to walk or even move out of your chair due to an ACL injury. So our expert team of orthopedic surgeons is dedicated to restoring your ability to walk with confidence with advanced anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery.
Types of ACL Surgery:
There are two main types of procedures for ACL injuries: ACL reconstruction and ACL repair. Compared to traditional or open surgery, which involves a large incision, arthroscopic ACL restoration is safer and superior because it involves tiny incisions with less tissue damage, ensuring quick recovery.
ACL Reconstruction:
ACL reconstruction involves the creation of new ligaments from the patient’s body tissue, termed an autograft, such as patellar tendon autografts, hamstring tendon autografts (tendons from the back of the thigh), and the quadriceps tendon above the kneecap. In contrast to this, in allograft ACL surgery, the tissue is taken from a cadaver (deceased donor).
- Single-bundle ACL reconstruction surgery involves the removal of the damaged ligament from the knee & the insertion of graft tissue (autograft/allograft), taken from tendons in and around the knee, to restore its function. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, which only requires a few small incisions around the knee, is a less invasive option than open knee surgery.
- Double-Bundle ACL: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is surgically replaced with two smaller grafts to reconstruct the Anteromedial (AM) bundle, responsible for forward movement of the tibia & Posterolateral (PL) bundle, which aids in the rotational stability of the knee.
Primary ACL Repair:
Primary ACL repair is one of the procedures for acute ACL injury that does not involve the use of donor grafts; rather, the ACL’s torn ends are cautiously aligned, sutured together, and trimmed to eliminate any frayed or damaged tissue.
Who Needs ACL Surgery?
- Individuals with knee instability (whose knees frequently give out during everyday activities)
- High-performance athletes who need stability and want to return to their sports
- Individuals with associated knee injuries, like a torn meniscus, may benefit from ACL repair.
- If symptoms persist despite medical & physical therapy, surgery may be the next step.
| Procedure Name | ACL |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Minor to Major (based on technique) |
| Type of Anesthesia | General anesthesia |
| Procedure Duration | 1 to 2 hours |
| Recovery Duration | Several weeks |
ACL: Pre-Op & Post-Op Care
Before the Procedure
- Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT, or MRI scans, are performed to evaluate the knee joint & repair the ACL injury or position the ACL grafts more precisely.
- You must refrain from taking any social habits, including smoking and drinking alcohol, along with any medications that could interfere with the procedure, such as blood thinners.
- You are instructed to fast for 6-12 hours.
Take a close look at the procedure steps
- Once in the procedure room, you will be administered general anesthesia to reduce the likelihood of experiencing pain during the procedure.
Initially, small incisions are made around the knee.
- A thin tube with a camera, an arthroscope, is inserted through one of these incisions to obtain a clear picture of the ACL injury and the surrounding structures, including cartilage & meniscus.
- Finally, the surgeon removes the damaged ACL and replaces it with a graft, which is a piece of tendon from another part of the body or a donor. The graft is attached to the bone with screws or other devices, and incisions are closed
Duration
Initially, small incisions are made around the knee.
The duration of an ACL surgical procedure usually ranges from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the damage and type of surgical technique chosen.
Recovery from ACL Surgery
You may require a few days of hospital stay. The recovery period may vary from individual to individual; however, the ideal healing period ranges from 6 weeks to 12 months.
- Keep your incision area clean and dry.
- Use crutches or walkers as supporting aids to reduce the burden on your knees.
- Watch for signs of complications, such as severe pain, swelling, and redness around the incision site, and contact your doctor immediately.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for several weeks.
- Focus on a healthy diet that includes calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables.
- Attend rehabilitation programs that aim to restore knee mobility through mild physical therapy or exercises, pain management therapies, & overall psychological support.
- Take your pain medications as directed to ease discomfort.
- Follow up to know the healing status.
Benefits of ACL at Yashoda Hospitals
- Restores knee stability and function.
- Reduces knee pain and swelling.
- Improves range of motion and flexibility.
- Facilitates return to sports and other physical activities.
- Prevents further knee injuries and degeneration.
- Enhances overall quality of life.
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