HOW CAN THE ACL TEAR OR RUPTURE?

ACL tears are often associated with sports that involve jumping, cutting or twisting. It is estimated that 70% of ACL injuries occur through non-contact, while 30 % result from direct contact with another player or object.¹ The ACL can be injured in several ways, including:

• Changing direction rapidly
• Stopping suddenly
• Slowing down while running
• Landing from a jump incorrectly
• Direct contact or collision – i.e., a football tackle

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF AN ACL TEAR?

People who tear their ACL generally hear a “popping” noise and feel their knees give out from under them. Additional symptoms include:

• Pain with swelling
• Loss of full range of motion of the knee
• Tenderness along the joint line
• Discomfort while walking

WHAT ARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Patients who aren’t active in sports and are who are willing to stop doing activities that require a stable knee may choose to try to heal their ACL with rest and rehabilitation.

Some physicians may have their patients manage pain with medication or non-surgical methods. However, your orthopaedic surgeon may decide that a surgical procedure is needed to reconstruct a new ACL.

Those patients who wish to continue being active in sports, who need their knee to be strong and stable and who don’t want risk further injury may want to consider ACL reconstruction surgery.

Treatment options should be discussed with your orthopedic surgeon.

IF I NEED ACL SURGERY, WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

ACL reconstructive surgery is an outpatient procedure generally done using an arthroscope through very small incisions, and performed by an orthopedic surgeon while the patient is under general anesthesia.

During the procedure, the patient’s torn ligament is removed and replaced with a graft, which can either come from the patient (autograft), or can come from donor tissue (allograft).

WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACL SURGERY?

ACL reconstruction is generally a safe procedure. As with all types of surgery, there is a limited chance complications may arise during surgery or recovery. Discuss these potential risks with your physician.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF PROCEDURES TO FIX MY TORN ACL?

The two most common tissues used to reconstruct the ACL are the patellar tendon (a.k.a. BTB) and the hamstring tendon. The patellar tendon graft is taken from the patient’s knee cap and has two small pieces of bone on either end called “bone blocks.” The hamstring tendon is considered a soft tissue graft because it doesn’t have bone blocks, and is a less invasive procedure.

The type of graft that is used determines how the newly reconstructed ligament is secured in the knee.

HOW DOES ACL RECONSTRUCTION WITH THE APERFIX® II DEVICE COMPARE TO OTHER REPAIR TREATMENTS?

The AperFix® II System is among the strongest devices on the market and offers a minimally invasive ACL reconstruction that is getting patients back to activities of daily life and their pre-injury level of play quicker and with less pain than traditional treatments. The device is designed to use soft tissue grafts to reconstruct the ligament, which results in less pain for the patient during recovery. AperFix® II offers a strong, stiffer ligament that delivers a more stable and natural feel during movement. AperFix® II has also been shown to perform more like the natural knee compared to traditional ACL reconstruction techniques.²

For more information about AperFix® II Click Here

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WHAT CAN I EXPECT REGARDING REHAB?

Patients work with a physical therapist to develop a program that fits their personal needs. Regular rehabilitation to restore your knee mobility and strength is necessary.

References
1. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. ACL Injury: Does it Require Surgery. Available at http://www.saveyourknees.org/print.cfm?topic=A00297
2. American Journal of Sports Medicine. Biomechanical Comparison of Single Tunnel – Double Bundle and Single Bundle Anterior Cruciate ligament Reconstructions. 2009