Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
When you tear the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee, your doctor will probably recommend ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Reconstruction surgery. When this is the case, it is important that you understand that the tissue to be used in your surgery can come from a variety of sources.
You may wonder where this tissue will come from. There are a couple of ways to get tissue for an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction. One way is to take the tissue from the patients body. This is called an autograft. The tissue is usually taken from the hamstring or the patellar tendon. This is the tendon at the front of the knee.
Allograft is another type of graft. This tissue is harvested from a cadaver.
Both options have positive and negative aspects. Your surgeon will review these with you and work with you to decide which option suit you.
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Reconstruction surgery is normally performed with the use of an arthroscope. To perform knee arthroscopy, your surgeon will create a small poke-hole in your knee and insert a tiny camera. This camera is connected to a video monitor and allows your surgeon to see the inside of your knee.
Your surgeon will examine the ligaments and the cartilage in your knee. If he or she finds that there has been other damage (for example, a meniscus tear) it will be taken care of during your surgery.
General anesthesia is usually used for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction. With this type of anesthesia, you will sleep through the surgery and wake up when all the work has been done.
Click here for more on ACL Surgery .
If you will be using an autograft, an incision will be made to remove it. Aside from that, knee surgery using arthroscopy requires only very minimal, small incisions. These are used to remove the damaged ligaments and to place the new ligaments properly.
Your new ligament will be put into place using bone tunnels which will allow the surgeon to place the new ligament in exactly the same location as the old ligament. Once in place, the ligament will be secured with screws or some other type of fastener to prevent it from moving. When your surgery is done, your incisions will be closed, and your knee will be bandaged.
Your surgeon will probably take photos and/or film your operation so that you can watch it on the video monitor after your surgery is done. This technique allows the surgeon to discuss findings with you in detail.
To be considered for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction, some symptoms you might be experiencing include, knees that give way, weakness and instability in the knees, and knee pain. If your ADL (activities of daily living) are affected and/or you are not able to participate in sports as you wish, these are further reasons to consider ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction.
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks involved. Excessive bleeding, nerve damage and infection occasionally occur. Patients also report weak knees and pain and stiffness in the knees. Sometimes, the surgery does not resolve the symptoms. Occasionally, the ligament does not heal. - 17273
You may wonder where this tissue will come from. There are a couple of ways to get tissue for an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction. One way is to take the tissue from the patients body. This is called an autograft. The tissue is usually taken from the hamstring or the patellar tendon. This is the tendon at the front of the knee.
Allograft is another type of graft. This tissue is harvested from a cadaver.
Both options have positive and negative aspects. Your surgeon will review these with you and work with you to decide which option suit you.
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Reconstruction surgery is normally performed with the use of an arthroscope. To perform knee arthroscopy, your surgeon will create a small poke-hole in your knee and insert a tiny camera. This camera is connected to a video monitor and allows your surgeon to see the inside of your knee.
Your surgeon will examine the ligaments and the cartilage in your knee. If he or she finds that there has been other damage (for example, a meniscus tear) it will be taken care of during your surgery.
General anesthesia is usually used for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction. With this type of anesthesia, you will sleep through the surgery and wake up when all the work has been done.
Click here for more on ACL Surgery .
If you will be using an autograft, an incision will be made to remove it. Aside from that, knee surgery using arthroscopy requires only very minimal, small incisions. These are used to remove the damaged ligaments and to place the new ligaments properly.
Your new ligament will be put into place using bone tunnels which will allow the surgeon to place the new ligament in exactly the same location as the old ligament. Once in place, the ligament will be secured with screws or some other type of fastener to prevent it from moving. When your surgery is done, your incisions will be closed, and your knee will be bandaged.
Your surgeon will probably take photos and/or film your operation so that you can watch it on the video monitor after your surgery is done. This technique allows the surgeon to discuss findings with you in detail.
To be considered for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction, some symptoms you might be experiencing include, knees that give way, weakness and instability in the knees, and knee pain. If your ADL (activities of daily living) are affected and/or you are not able to participate in sports as you wish, these are further reasons to consider ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction.
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks involved. Excessive bleeding, nerve damage and infection occasionally occur. Patients also report weak knees and pain and stiffness in the knees. Sometimes, the surgery does not resolve the symptoms. Occasionally, the ligament does not heal. - 17273
About the Author:
Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Click here to learn more about Dr. Edelson, Oregon ACL Tears and Oregon Knee Surgery.
posted by X - Men at
5:10 PM
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