Know More about ACL tear and How to prevent it

Posted On 06/12/17

Acl is the stabilizing ligaments of knee. ACL can be injured if the knee is bent backward, twisted, or bent side to side. This kinds of injuries are common in sports.

Why does the ACL fail to heal?

Usually the ligaments heal by scar formation. But the fluid around the ACL prevent blood clotting within the joint and due to this the no scar tissue is formed. Thus the ACL rarely heals continuously.

What happens if the torn ACL is not operated?

Both non-operative treatments using braces and exercise fails to rebound ACL tear. In this case tearing of other structures, such as the meniscus and the cartilage can happen. This may lead to arthritis (wear and tear) of the knee joint.

Both non-operative treatments using braces and exercise fails to rebound ACL tear. In this case tearing of other structures, such as the meniscus and the cartilage can happen. This may lead to arthritis (wear and tear) of the knee joint.

Why girls are at more risk for ACL injury compared to boys?

Girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to tear their ACLs for several

possible reasons:

• 1) Girls tend to use their ligaments more than muscles when playing sports.
• 2) At puberty, boys grow in height and leg muscles get developed. But, this doesn’t happen in girls unless they train for it.
• 3) Girls tend to land in a more straight legged way than boys
• 4) Girls knees tend to bend inward during jumping
• 5) Girls have wider hips, which put more pressure on acl
• 6) Female knee has a narrow notch compared to a male knee

What is the treatment for ACL tear in children?

Standard surgery in children may result in growth abnormality such as leg length inequality, or deformity at the knee. The younger the child, the greater the chance of deformity. Thus non-operative treatments like bracing & strengthening exercises are usually suggested.

Prevention of ACL Injury

Athletes and active young people can reduce ACL injury risk by :

• 1) Maintaining general health & fitness.
• 2) Using proper sport-specific movements and techniques.
• 3) Wearing proper sport - specific gear learning which moves cause risks.
• 4) Hamstring strengthening (especially in girls)
• 5) Neuromuscular training (learning how to land properly from jumps) particular in females.

Dr. Kanna’s Knee & Ortho Clinic is headed by Dr. Raj Kanna. He is the best known orthopedic and knee surgeon in Chennai. He is one of the few eminent surgeons in Asia, who can perform Computer assisted knee surgeries.

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