ACL Rupture
What is the ACL? What happens when you rupture it? And what can your Cheltenham knee surgeon do about it?
What is the ACL and what does it do?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of your knee’s main restraining ligaments. It runs diagonally from the back of your thigh bone to the front of the shin bone and, like other ligaments, it’s a tough piece of connective tissue designed to keep structures together. The ACL’s role is to prevent the lower leg extending or twisting too much.
What causes an ACL rupture?
ACL injuries are relatively common in any sport where you might:
- Stop or change direction suddenly
- Risk landing awkwardly after a jump
- Be involved in collisions (such as when you tackle)
In any of these events, the leg can be extended or twisted, causing the ligament to tear (rupture). ACL injuries can also be caused by traumatic events such as car accidents.
How do I know if I’ve torn my ACL?
You might hear a ‘pop’ as the ACL tears. Immediately afterwards the knee will feel painful and, if you’ve suffered the injury during sport, you won’t be able to keep playing. The knee will usually swell.
Although the swelling may subside over time, you’ll probably be left with a feeling of instability, as though the knee is about to give way—especially when you twist on it. Some patients feel the instability constantly. Rarely, some patients can injure the ACL and not feel that sense of instability.
How do you diagnose an ACL tear?
Alex will use a combination of clinical examination plus tests, X-rays or MRI scans, together with your description of the injury, to diagnose an ACL tear.
If you are seeking treatment via private medical insurance, you’ll usually need a referral from your GP to begin the diagnostic and treatment process.
If you wish to self-pay for your medical treatment, you may not need a referral.
Why ACL diagnosis speed matters
Because the initial swelling that occurs when you tear your ACL tends to subside, many people not involved in serious sport assume their knee is recovering. That can mean them delaying seeking treatment.
An ACL tear won’t heal itself. So if you suspect you may have torn your ACL and want the best chance of a full recovery, talk to Alex now.
How do you treat knee an ACL rupture?
Treatment may not always involve knee surgery. A small number of patients can continue life largely as normal without ill effects. If you don’t lead an active life you may be able to live with an ACL tear by modifying your activities and/or by building the muscles around the knee to take on some of the ACL’s workload.
For everyone else with an ACL rupture in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Cotswolds, you are likely to need ACL reconstruction surgery followed by physiotherapy to ensure you can return to the activities you enjoyed before your injury.
> Find more about ACL reconstruction in Gloucestershire with Alex Dodds.
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Appointments
To make an appointment please either fill in the contact form and you will be called back by our secretary to arrange a convenient appointment time or get in touch directly.
Call Chrissie Holmyard 01242 246549 at Nuffield Health, Cheltenham.
