Knee Surgery: Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
ACL Reconstruction: An Overview
The knee is stabilized by the ACL. It is often torn because of the location of the ligament and the fact that external forces are often exerted on it by activities causing damage. Each individual makes the choice of how to treat damage to the ACL.
Surgery is chosen with such factors as the patients level of activity, age, and the stability of the knee in mind. Additionally, it is necessary to know if other knee structures have experienced damage. Surgery will normally be recommended when it will let the patient return to the previous level of activity.
Surgery acts as a stabilizer to the knee. It also helps prevent secondary damage to the menisci (cartilage cushions) as well as the articular cartilage of the knee. The hope is that surgery will help prevent premature knee deterioration.
Across the board, ACL reconstruction surgery is performed arthroscopically. Personally, I believe that an autograft-tissue graft that comes from the patient is the best thing to use. The alternative is an allograft. This is a graft harvested from a cadaver.
However, I think allografts are subject to problems. Recent research has indicated that patients under age 25 who receive an allograft followed by an aggressive rehabilitation program are 10-25% more likely to have problems.
Click here to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
I prefer to use Patellar Tendon Autograft with interference screw fixation for patients below the age of 30 who have no underlying patellofemoral disease. Additionally, I prefer Hamstring Autograft (semitendinosis and gracilis combined) with a rigid extra-articular fixation - the Rapid Loc or Toggle Loc, for example - on the femur as well as the Washer Loc on the tibia.
If the patient is under age 25, I have been known to use an allograft as long as the patient guarantees he will not engage in aggressive, competitive sports for a full year following the surgery. This period of time gives the allograft a chance to heal. Also, I will use allografts when there is more than one ligament that needs to be reconstructed.
The knee is stabilized and stress is kept at a minimum across the knee joint by the ACL.
In addition, excessive forward movement of the lower bone of the leg (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) is prevented by the ACL.
Excessive knee rotation is also kept under control by the ACL.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Stefan Tarlow, a leading Phoenix Knee Doctor. - 17269
The knee is stabilized by the ACL. It is often torn because of the location of the ligament and the fact that external forces are often exerted on it by activities causing damage. Each individual makes the choice of how to treat damage to the ACL.
Surgery is chosen with such factors as the patients level of activity, age, and the stability of the knee in mind. Additionally, it is necessary to know if other knee structures have experienced damage. Surgery will normally be recommended when it will let the patient return to the previous level of activity.
Surgery acts as a stabilizer to the knee. It also helps prevent secondary damage to the menisci (cartilage cushions) as well as the articular cartilage of the knee. The hope is that surgery will help prevent premature knee deterioration.
Across the board, ACL reconstruction surgery is performed arthroscopically. Personally, I believe that an autograft-tissue graft that comes from the patient is the best thing to use. The alternative is an allograft. This is a graft harvested from a cadaver.
However, I think allografts are subject to problems. Recent research has indicated that patients under age 25 who receive an allograft followed by an aggressive rehabilitation program are 10-25% more likely to have problems.
Click here to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
I prefer to use Patellar Tendon Autograft with interference screw fixation for patients below the age of 30 who have no underlying patellofemoral disease. Additionally, I prefer Hamstring Autograft (semitendinosis and gracilis combined) with a rigid extra-articular fixation - the Rapid Loc or Toggle Loc, for example - on the femur as well as the Washer Loc on the tibia.
If the patient is under age 25, I have been known to use an allograft as long as the patient guarantees he will not engage in aggressive, competitive sports for a full year following the surgery. This period of time gives the allograft a chance to heal. Also, I will use allografts when there is more than one ligament that needs to be reconstructed.
The knee is stabilized and stress is kept at a minimum across the knee joint by the ACL.
In addition, excessive forward movement of the lower bone of the leg (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) is prevented by the ACL.
Excessive knee rotation is also kept under control by the ACL.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Stefan Tarlow, a leading Phoenix Knee Doctor. - 17269
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with more than 20 years experience focusing on knee surgery. After 19 years of practice, he opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, Phoenix knee surgery and Phoenix ACL Surgery.
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