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 Torn Anterior Knee Ligament |
(also known as the anterior cruciate ligament, or "ACL")
What function does this ligament have?The anterior knee ligament is the most important stabiliser in the joint. If it is torn, it is not usually noticeable when walking, etc. However, if the ligament is put under more stress (e.g. during high impact sports or if you twist your knee) the upper leg bone may "slide over" the lower leg bone, i.e. the anterior ligament acts as a "safety belt" which prevents this from happening. This in turn can damage other parts of the joint, such as the meniscus. Such an accident, if severe enough, can be the end for your knee joint. The ligament tear must be corrected, and building up the muscles of the leg is no substitute (some people mistakenly believe it is). |
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How can such a ligament tear be repaired?The "safety belt" function of the ligament must be restored. As a rule, the ligament must be replaced with a new structure. There are two types of grafts which can be used, the right one for a particular patient depends on age, sex, sports played, height, weight, etc. The pros and cons of each are discussed with each patient in detail. The new ligament is then fixed into the leg bones with transplanted bone "cylinders" taken from your own bones. Although it sounds very complicated, the success rate of these techniques is actually very good. |
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How long will I be off work?Office workers can go back to work (on crutches) after one or two weeks, people whose work is quite physical need about six weeks. |
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Can I play sports again?After six to eight weeks sports such as swimming, cycling and walking are OK again. Sports that involve a lot of high impact stops and/or twisting of the joint should be avoided for about six months, and contact sports such as football should be avoided for eight to nine months (of course, if you resume them you risk injuring the ligament again!). |
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