ACL injuries

Autore: Mr Jonathan Walczak
Pubblicato: | Aggiornato: 07/09/2023
Editor: Emma McLeod

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is the most common knee ligament to be injured. It occurs in about 1 in every 3000 people. Read on to learn the answers to common questions, as answered by Mr Jonathan Walczak, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has treated many cases of ACL injuries over the past 25 years.

A physiotherapist is evaluating a woman's knee by pressing his fingers around it. She is laying on top of a general medical bed used by physiotherapists.

 

Who is most at risk of this injury?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries happen more commonly in contact ball sports in men and downhill skiing in women. This type of injury is 3 times more common in women than men overall. This is due to differences in anatomy between genders and the fact that women tend to be more flexible than men (on average). It’s also more common in people who are less fit, or who have not trained for their sport adequately.

 

It’s a sports injury that is common in sports with jumping, cutting, landing on a flexed knee and rotating, rotating on a planted foot during a tackle or rotating with a ski binding that hasn’t released.

 

What happens if I leave an ACL untreated?

When untreated, there is an increased risk of developing torn cartilage/meniscus. This occurs in up to 40% of people. Also, there is an increased risk of arthritis in the knee over ten to twenty years afterwards, due to the instability of the knee.

 

How do I know my ACL is injured?

It is very common for there to be:

  • a pop or a snap
  • sudden pain due to bleeding into the joint
  • immediate swelling and limping

This is in contrast to cartilage injuries which more often swell up the day afterwards.

 

Can you still walk on an untreated ACL tear?

It’s possible to walk upon your ACL after tearing it, albeit with some pain. Often, this pain is at the outer back of the knee and some people show symptoms quite late, having underestimated its nature.

 

If this has happened to you, you cannot put bear weight on your knee for more than few days and the knee feels unstable, you should seek medical advice from a physiotherapist or surgeon and have a full assessment with an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan.

 

Do all ACL tears need surgery?

The good news is that not everyone needs to have surgical reconstruction after an ACL injury. The need for reconstruction depends on:

  • your age
  • fitness level
  • if you plan to play sports
  • how well you do with physiotherapy

 

In large surveys, between a third and half of people have been able to enjoy an active life without having surgery, but usually having had a course of physiotherapy.

 

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation are recommended for most people. The goal of these is to get the knee moving and to build up strength. Reconstructive surgery is reserved for people who have ongoing instability and pain or who play sport to a high level and want to return as soon as they possibly can.

 

If I don’t have surgery, can I continue playing sports as well as before?

It is certainly possible to return to sports after an ACL injury without surgery, but this would usually be sports such as running, swimming, gym, or another activity in which you are moving in a straight line.

 

What are the long-term effects of a torn ACL?

Any activities involving sudden changes in direction when moving rapidly or jumping and landing on a bent knee, such as football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby etc. would be difficult.

 

What does surgery involve?

ACL reconstruction surgery usually involves taking the hamstring tendon from the same leg and using it to make a new ligament. This results in a day in hospital and several months of physiotherapy afterwards. Surgery and intense rehabilitation will get 80% of people back to their chosen sport.

 

For more information about ACL injuries and other conditions involving the hips, knees and feet, please see my website.

 

Are you experiencing aches or pains in your hips, knees, or feet? Get in touch with Mr Walczak by visiting his Top Doctors profile.

*Tradotto con Google Translator. Preghiamo ci scusi per ogni imperfezione

Mr Jonathan Walczak
Traumatologia

Jonathan Walczak è un consulente di grande esperienza ortopedico e chirurgo del trauma , con cliniche private presso il BMI Chelsfield Park Hospital , il BMI The Sloane Hospital , il BMI Shirley Oaks e il KIMS Hospital nel Kent. Walczak è specializzato in protesi dell'anca e del ginocchio, chirurgia del buco della serratura, lesioni sportive, riparazione del legamento crociato anteriore e borsite. Ha anche esperienza nella gestione dell'artrite del ginocchio. Appassionato corridore e ciclista, comprende le esigenze degli atleti e si impegna ad aiutare le persone di tutte le abilità a tornare allo sport e all'attività fisica ove possibile.

Walczak ha studiato alla Guy's Hospital Medical School dal 1981 al 1987. La sua formazione post-laurea includeva una borsa di studio specialistica in chirurgia dell'anca. Ha ricoperto la carica di consulente di trauma e chirurgo ortopedico presso il Bromley NHS Trust dal 1999 ed è ora impiegato presso il Kings College NHS Trust , lavorando presso gli ospedali Farnborough, Beckenham e Orpington.

I suoi interessi speciali sono la sostituzione dell'articolazione degli arti inferiori, inclusa la sostituzione minima dell'anca e del ginocchio. Ha sviluppato un approccio di accesso minimo all'anca che è stato utilizzato in oltre 1000 casi di sostituzione dell'anca. L'uso di questo approccio ha drasticamente ridotto la necessità di trasfusioni di sangue nella chirurgia di sostituzione dell'anca a meno di 1 paziente su 8.

Walczak è pronto a trattare prontamente sia i suoi pazienti privati che quelli del SSN con un approccio molto incentrato sul paziente. È membro del Royal College of Surgeons of England e membro della British Orthopaedic Association .

*Tradotto con Google Translator. Preghiamo ci scusi per ogni imperfezione

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