ACL Tears
Knee Treatments
What Causes ACL Injuries and ACL Tears?
The ACL is one of the cruciate ligaments of the knee that prevents the bones that make up the knee sliding too far forward. Along with the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the two cross one each other in the knee joint to form an “X”. ACL injuries are commonly sustained by athletes and active individuals who participate in high impact sports that involve running, jumping, cutting, pivoting and turning motions. However, the ACL can be injured due to a sudden impact that overextends the knee in one direction, or as the result of a slip and fall.
ACL injuries can vary in severity and can be classified into grades based on the damage to the ligament itself.
Grade I. The ACL is sprained or strained but remains fully intact
Grade II. The ACL is partially torn but remains intact
Grade III. The ACL is completely torn and is no longer intact
If you have an ACL injury, the symptoms can include:
- Pain in the knee
- Swelling
- Bruising
- A feeling of “catching” or “buckling” of the knee
- An audible “pop” at the moment of injury
The Board Certified Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists at OSS Health have helped thousands of patients with ACL injuries return to an active and healthy lifestyle using a variety of treatment options.
How Are ACL Tears Treated at OSS Health?
The treatment for an ACL injury is based on the severity of the injury as well as your specific lifestyle. In the instances where the ACL is not completely torn, the Board Certified Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Specialists at OSS Health may recommend conservative treatment options to allow the ligament to heal.
These treatment options can include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Bracing
- Physical Therapy
In some cases, many older adults who are not as active do not need to undergo a surgical procedure to repair the ACL.
However, for more active people, an arthroscopic procedure, known as an ACL Repair or Reconstruction, is used to repair the damaged ACL.