Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Treating the Knee with Surgery
An Overview of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Reconstruction
The knee is stabilized by the ACL. It is often torn because of the location of the ligament and the fact that external forces are often exerted on it by activities causing damage. Each individual makes the choice of how to treat damage to the ACL.
Surgery is chosen with such factors as the patients level of activity, age, and the stability of the knee in mind. Additionally, it is necessary to know if other knee structures have experienced damage. Surgery will normally be recommended when it will let the patient return to the previous level of activity.
ACL reconstruction will stabilize the knee. This prevents further damage to the articular cartilage and the menisci (cartilage cushions). Surgery helps in preventing premature deterioration of the knee.
ACL reconstruction is always performed arthroscopically. My personal preference is to use an autograft-tissue graft. This is a graft that is harvested from the patient. It is also possible to use an allograft, which is harvested from a cadaver.
However, I believe these are subject to problems in the long term. Indeed, recent research has shown that patients under the age of 24 who receive an allograft and then participate in an aggressive rehabilitation program are 10-25% more likely to have a high failure rate.
Click here to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
I prefer to use Patellar Tendon Autograft with interference screw fixation for patients below the age of 30 who have no underlying patellofemoral disease. Additionally, I prefer Hamstring Autograft (semitendinosis and gracilis combined) with a rigid extra-articular fixation - the Rapid Loc or Toggle Loc, for example - on the femur as well as the Washer Loc on the tibia.
If my patient is under the age of 25, I am willing to use an allograft only if the patient will avoid aggressive and competitive sports for a complete year. This will allow the allograft enough time for healing. Additionally, I am willing to use allografts if I am reconstructing more than one ligament.
The ACL acts to provide stability for the knee and to keep stress at a minimum across the knee joint:
In addition, excessive forward movement of the lower bone of the leg (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) is prevented by the ACL.
Additionally, it prevents excessive rotational movement of the knee.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Stefan Tarlow, a leading Phoenix Knee Doctor. - 17273
The knee is stabilized by the ACL. It is often torn because of the location of the ligament and the fact that external forces are often exerted on it by activities causing damage. Each individual makes the choice of how to treat damage to the ACL.
Surgery is chosen with such factors as the patients level of activity, age, and the stability of the knee in mind. Additionally, it is necessary to know if other knee structures have experienced damage. Surgery will normally be recommended when it will let the patient return to the previous level of activity.
ACL reconstruction will stabilize the knee. This prevents further damage to the articular cartilage and the menisci (cartilage cushions). Surgery helps in preventing premature deterioration of the knee.
ACL reconstruction is always performed arthroscopically. My personal preference is to use an autograft-tissue graft. This is a graft that is harvested from the patient. It is also possible to use an allograft, which is harvested from a cadaver.
However, I believe these are subject to problems in the long term. Indeed, recent research has shown that patients under the age of 24 who receive an allograft and then participate in an aggressive rehabilitation program are 10-25% more likely to have a high failure rate.
Click here to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
I prefer to use Patellar Tendon Autograft with interference screw fixation for patients below the age of 30 who have no underlying patellofemoral disease. Additionally, I prefer Hamstring Autograft (semitendinosis and gracilis combined) with a rigid extra-articular fixation - the Rapid Loc or Toggle Loc, for example - on the femur as well as the Washer Loc on the tibia.
If my patient is under the age of 25, I am willing to use an allograft only if the patient will avoid aggressive and competitive sports for a complete year. This will allow the allograft enough time for healing. Additionally, I am willing to use allografts if I am reconstructing more than one ligament.
The ACL acts to provide stability for the knee and to keep stress at a minimum across the knee joint:
In addition, excessive forward movement of the lower bone of the leg (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) is prevented by the ACL.
Additionally, it prevents excessive rotational movement of the knee.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Stefan Tarlow, a leading Phoenix Knee Doctor. - 17273
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with more than 20 years experience focusing on knee surgery. After 19 years of practice, he opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, Phoenix knee surgery and Phoenix ACL Reconstruction.
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4:35 AM
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