ALC Reconstruction

Athletes are seriously prone to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. In view of the accelerated movements executed, whether it is change of direction, hurdling or tackles. These movements hike up the risk of landing incorrectly and twisting the knee. Sports Medicine physicians advise the warning signs of ACL damage is knee instability and the knee persistently giving way after injury. However, when a physician recognizes ACL damage the next move is a phase of rest, ice compression and elevation.

This is also known as RICE and helps some avoid surgery with specific exercises and a knee brace. If the patient does require surgery, it can be done as an outpatient procedure or overnight. The surgery is done arthroscopically to remove the damaged ligament, to make space for a graft, which is usually a tendon taken from the patella or hamstring. The surgeon threads the graft through holes he drilled on top of the shin bone and the bottom of the thigh bone. This bounds the graft into the joint to become the missing ACL.