Multi-Ligament Injury Reconstruction
How do you treat a multi-ligament injury? Alex Dodds, knee consultant for Cheltenham and Gloucester, explains.
Will I need surgery for a multi-ligament injury?
Probably. That’s because multi-ligament injuries often occur with other injuries including dislocations and fractures. As we explore here, around 1 in 5 multi-ligament injuries can involve damage to blood vessels.
The most severe injuries will need urgent surgery. Where blood vessels are not damaged and where bones are unbroken, surgery may still be required, but your knee surgeon may first allow time for damage to side ligaments (the collateral ligaments) to heal.
After this period, any remaining damaged ligaments (usually the ACL) will need reconstruction surgery.
What does ligament reconstruction surgery involve?
Reconstruction surgery uses a graft from another tendon, usually the hamstring or central third of the patellar tendon, to function as a new ACL and act as a scaffold on which the new ligament can grow.
Your Gloucestershire knee consultant will use keyhole surgery to ‘harvest’ the graft and secure it at the site of the ACL.
What happens after multi-ligament surgery?
It’s important to begin mobilising as soon as possible after reconstruction surgery so that your knee stands the best chance of recovering its full range of motion. Physiotherapy will support this.
For around six weeks after multi-ligament reconstruction surgery you’ll need to keep weight off the joint. After this period your physiotherapist will help you gradually increase load and movement.
How long does it take to recover from multi-ligament surgery?
Recovery from multi-ligament injury can take time, and it’s important to ensure the right balance between allowing the ligaments to heal and physiotherapy to help the knee joint regain full movement. Push things too far too fast and there’s a risk that the grafts used in the reconstruction will fail.
With rehabilitation, you should expect to be able to return to everyday activities in 9-12 months.
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Call Chrissie Holmyard 01242 246549 at Nuffield Health, Cheltenham.
