ValleyOrtho’s physicians treat a wide range of common
knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
There are four main ligaments that stabilize the knee. The ACL is located
in the center of the knee and is primarily responsible for stabilizing
knee rotation that occurs during cutting and pivoting activities.
The ACL stabilizes the knee by:
The ligament provides protection against excessive anterior and rotational
movement of the knee through its connection to the lower leg bone (tibia)
and thighbone (femur).
The ACL provides sensory feedback to help with balance and proper knee
positioning during activity.
What Are the Causes of an ACL Injury?
ACL injuries are more common among athletes and are often caused when playing
sports that include running, jumping and pivoting.
Problems occur when:
Changing direction rapidly
Stopping suddenly
Slowing down while running
A bad landing from a jump
A direct collision, such as a tackle
ACL Injury Symptoms
An ACL injury can be a significant event, causing pain, instability, and
potential long-term consequences. While the symptoms can vary, there are
several common indicators that may suggest an ACL injury:
Popping sensation: Many individuals report hearing a "pop" or feeling a snapping
sensation in the knee at the time of injury.
Sudden pain: The pain can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by a feeling
of instability.
Swelling: Rapid swelling of the knee is a common symptom following an ACL injury.
"Giving out" sensation: The knee may feel like it is "giving out" or buckling, particularly
when bearing weight or engaging in activities that require twisting or pivoting.
It's important to note that the severity of symptoms can vary significantly
from person to person. Some individuals may experience minimal pain and
swelling, while others may have more severe symptoms. Additionally, the
degree of instability and the impact on daily activities can also differ.
Diagnosing ACL Knee Injury
A thorough history and a physical examination of the knee is often the
most reliable method of diagnosis. The knee experts at ValleyOrtho will
assess the knee’s range of motion, swelling, muscle strength and
laxity. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be ordered to visualize
all the soft tissue in and around the knee and evaluate for other injuries.
ACL Injury Treatments
The knee experts at ValleyOrtho examine conservative, nonsurgical treatments
before proposing surgical intervention. The choices for treatment will
be individualized and will take into account the age, activity level and
the desire to return to activities which require significant amounts of
cutting and pivoting or other high-speed movements.
One form of conservative treatment is to modify the patient’s sports
participation. This could involve discontinuing sports involving cutting
and pivoting, such as soccer and basketball. These sports could be replaced
by sports that do not involve cutting and pivoting, such as swimming or running.
Another form of conservative treatment is rehabilitation with a physical
therapist. Rehabilitation for an ACL injury focuses on improving the patient’s
proprioception and muscular stabilization.
Surgical ACL reconstruction involves replacing the torn ACL with a graft.
The new ACL graft can either come from the patient (autograft) or a cadaver
(allograft).
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