An anterior cruciate ligament rupture is an injury that occurs as a result of sudden movements of the body while the leg is fixed to the ground. It usually occurs during contact sports such as soccer, rugby or basketball.
Some of the most typical situations in which an anterior cruciate knee ligament rupture occurs are an opponent’s tackle in soccer, locking the leg in skiing or landing from a jump.
Since anterior cruciate ligament rupture has no healing capacity and its rupture leads to early knee osteoarthritis in 100% of cases, it is advisable that it be repaired in an active patient.
ACL tear surgery
Surgery for anterior cruciate ligament rupture is usually performed 3 to 4 weeks after the injury to allow the knee to regain its mobility. In this way later complications are avoided.
This surgery consists of a knee arthroscopy and a mini-incision for graft removal. A tiny camera is introduced through an optical fiber connected to a monitor that gives the doctor a clear and magnified view of the inside of the knee. It is performed through small incisions -usually two- through which small surgical instruments are introduced with which the intervention is performed. In addition, a saline solution is introduced into the joint to help the surgeon see the knee clearly and eliminate any cloudy fluid or bleeding.
After the arthroscopy, the ligament reconstruction treatment is started using a tissue graft, which can be the patient’s own or from a donor bank. This procedure is based on the following steps:
- Cleaning of torn ligament remnants by means of surgical instruments.
- In the case of an in-house graft, the surgeon performs an accessory mini-incision to be able to extract the tissue.
- An anatomical reconstruction is performed by creating tunnels in the bone to introduce the new tissue, placing it exactly where the old ligament was.
- The new ligament is fixed to the bone with screws and other devices to keep it in place. The tunnels made in the bone will regenerate as it heals, further securing and securing the new ligament.
- Finally, the knee incisions are sutured.
According to experts in Traumatology, the operation lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the severity of the injury.
Postoperative period for ACL rupture surgery
After surgery, an articulated knee brace is placed in order to protect the ligament during rehabilitation. There are different postoperative methods, but in general, all include gaining degrees of mobility as follows:
- First week: 30 degrees.
- Second week: 60 degrees.
- Third week: 90 degrees and start of active support and rehabilitation.
- First month: the patient can walk without canes.
- Second month: the patient can now perform gentle exercise.
Outcome of ACL rupture surgery
Thanks to the new technology applied to surgery for anterior cruciate ligament rupture, today athletes who suffer this injury can resume their professional activity within a maximum period of 6 months. Previously it meant the end of his career.
With anatomic reconstruction, more rotational stability is given to the knee, making it more stable and functional. In addition, it avoids complications such as anterior impingement (cyclops syndrome), early rupture and elongation of the new ligament.