noreply@blogger.com (North West Hip & Knee Clinic) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:03:00 +0000

Injury to the ACL

Injury to the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) of the knee joint is most commonly sustained during sport involving rapid change of direction or after a fall especially when skiing.

A significant number occurs without any contact at all, this is when the player is changing direction with the foot planted on the ground and then twisting the knee. They may hear a “snap” or a “pop” with severe pain and fall to the ground, they will try to get up and play, but cannot and have to go off.

Initial assessment is difficult due to the pain and swelling. This is initially helped by painkiller, anti-inflammatory medication and RICER (Rest, Ice, Compression Elevation and Rehabilitation).

Assessment will require a detailed history of events; examination and investigations by way of x-rays and an MRI scan.

Management once the diagnosis is confirmed, it is important to allow the knee to settle, regain near normal range of movement, strength and be causing minimal or no pain. Often the ACL tear is associated with a tear of the meniscus (cartilage) and other ligament injuries.

After a period of rehabilitation and then reassessment, it may be necessary in individual cases to reconstruct the ACL and repair the meniscal tear.

Case Example

A 33-year male was playing five a side football, injured his left knee by twisting it with his foot planted on artificial turf, the knee was swollen and he had to be carried off. He was taken to the local A&E department and was told it was a soft tissue injury and it would settle.

Two years later with multiple physiotherapy sessions, visits to the GP and attempts to play football he made an appointment to be seen by Mr Aslam Mohammed at The NW Hip & Knee Clinic.

After detailed assessment and investigation he was diagnosed to have a tear of the ACL and BHT (Bucket handle tear) of his medial meniscus (cartilage).

He underwent reconstruction of his ACL with a four-strand hamstring graft and repair of his medial meniscus; he will undergo rehabilitation with the physiotherapists. He can look forward to getting back to training for football at about six months and start playing matches at 9 to 12 months.

MRI scan showing a torn ACL

Arthroscopy ACL missing notch ACL reconstructed

Displaced BHT of medial meniscus Meniscus repaired with 2 sutures

https://nw-hip-knee-clinic.com