What is ACL Tear Surgery?
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a major ligament which helps in moving the knee. When this ligament is partially or completely torn, the ACL Tear Surgery is done to repair the knee.
What causes a ACL Tear?
Most of the times, an ACL tear occurs while playing sports such as football, basketball, skiing etc in which you twist, turn, jump or stop suddenly.
Symptoms / when to call your doctor
When an ACL tear happens, you’ll hear a loud pop sound from your knee. Some of the symptoms are:
Mild to severe pain in the knee
Trouble in walking, putting pressure or bending the knee
Swelling
Why you should see a doctor?
If you experience symptoms of an ACL tear, you should visit the doctor immediately to understand the extent of knee damage. Ignoring the symptoms may lead to:
Severe pain
Further tear and weakening of the knee
Osteoarthritis
How is it diagnosed?
An ACL tear can be diagnosed by a simple physical examination. To understand the extent of damage, the doctor may recommend:
X ray
MRI scan
Arthroscopy- In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut in the knee. A pencil sized tool is inserted to examine the extent of damage on a screen.
Dietary Restrictions
Having a healthy diet after the ACL surgery is important. It will help the knee to heal faster.
Some of the foods that you can include in the diet are:
Lean proteins like egg, chicken, fish, lentils
Green leafy vegetables
Citrus fruits
Treatment for ACL Tear
The treatment for an ACL tear differs based on your fitness level and extent of damage of the knee.
For a simple tear, the doctor may recommend:
Knee Brace
Physiotherapy
Pain medication
However, if the ligament is badly torn, you will need to undergo surgery.
Types of treatments:
| Specifics | Arthroscopic Surgery | Open Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Incision | 2-3 Small incisions | Large incision across the knee |
| Blood Loss | Less | High |
| Recovery time | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
| Hospital stay | 1 day | 2-3 days |
| Invasive | No | Yes |
Arthroscopic Surgery
An arthroscopic surgery also called; keyhole surgery is a simple under 2-hour surgery to repair an ACL tear in the knee.
Flow of the procedure:
Patient is given spinal or general anaesthesia for the procedure
Small incisions are made in the knee
A tiny camera is inserted into the incision
The camera footage is visible on a screen which guides the doctor to perform the surgery
Using the patient’s tissue or tissue from a bank, the doctor repairs the ligament
The incisions are taped and the patient is taken to the recovery room.
Recovery Time and Dietary Advice:
1-day hospital stay with mild pain
Resume to normal routine after 2-3 weeks and active sports after 6-12 months
Using ice pack to relieve swelling and regular exercise to strengthen the knee are advised
Having a diet of lean proteins, green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits is important for recovery
Risks involved in the treatment:
There are very less complications through this treatment. Some of the risks may be:
Numbness
Infection
Blood clots
Injury to nerves in the knee
Pain
Open Surgery
In this procedure, a large incision is made in the knee to repair the ligament.
Flow of the procedure:
Patient is given general anesthesia for the procedure
A large incision is made in the damaged knee
The ligament is repaired/replaced through the incision
The incision is sutured and the patient is taken to the recovery room
Recovery Time and Dietary Advice:
2- 3 days hospital stay with mild pain
Resume to normal routine after 2-3 weeks and active sports after 6-12 months
Having a diet of lean proteins, green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits is important for recovery
Risks involved in the treatment:
There are very less complications through this treatment. Some of the risks may be:
Allergic or adverse reaction to anesthesia or other drugs
Bleeding
Infection
Injury to nerves and blood vessels in and around the knee