Treatments for ACL tear depend on specific needs of patients. Young sportspersons require immediate surgery to get back to their sporting activities. Normally doctors use a tissue graft to repair torn ACL. Elderly patients prefer non-surgical techniques.
Treatments and Medications for ACL Injury
New York (USA), June 19, 2013
Treatments Options for ACL Injury
Treatments and medications for ACL tear depend on specific requirements of patients. Young sportspersons require immediate surgery to get back to their sporting activities. Elderly or less active patients prefer non-surgical techniques.
Nonsurgical Treatment Options
If overall knee stability is fine, non-surgical options provide essential relief. Soon after ACL tear is diagnosed, doctor advises you to wear a knee brace and use crutches to move around. Knee brace provides stability to your knee while a crutch prevents transfer of body weight to knee. As soon as the initial swelling starts decreasing, doctor advises various physical therapy sessions and rehabilitation programs and techniques. These exercises restore strength and mobility in knee and improve muscular strength of legs.
Surgical Treatment Options
An ACL tear cannot be stitched back together. Knee ligament has to be reconstructed to repair ACL tear and restore movement and stability in knee. If there is bleeding within knee, doctor advises arthrocentesis. This involves inserting needle into knee joint to draw out excess fluid.
Normally doctors use a tissue graft to repair torn ACL. This graft promotes growth of fresh ligament over time. Tissue graft can be obtained from:
– Patellar tendon extending between kneecap and shinbone
– Quadriceps tendon extending from kneecap into thigh
– Hamstring tendon at back of thigh
– Cadaver graft sourced from tissue bank
Surgical repair of ACL tear is done through an anthroscope. Doctor makes small incisions in tibia and femur through a pointed needle-shaped device. Graft is placed and held in position through screws and buttons. This process is not very painful and you require very little recovery time.
ACL surgery or reconstruction is not done immediately after ACL tear is diagnosed. Doctors advise sufficient time for swelling to improve thereby allowing better range of motion of knee before attempting surgery. ACL surgery done immediately after ACL tear increases chances of scarring at knee joint or arthrofibrosis. This can disable knee joint severely.
Reconstructed ligament requires time to regrow. Sometimes this rehabilitation period extends from six to twelve months before you finally get back into your regular physical routine.
ACL Injury – Definition and Diagnosis
Definition and Diagnosis of ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Causes and Evaluation
Causes and Evaluation of ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Signs and Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Complications and Risk Factors
Complications and Risk Factors for ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Clinical Trials and Research Studies
Clinical Trials and Research Studies on ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies
Home Remedies and Alternative Therapies for ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Prevention and Coping
Prevention and Coping with ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help
Lifestyle Changes and Self-Help for ACL Injury
ACL Injury – Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies
ACL Injury – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention, Treatment, and Remedies