Knee Pain Relief : ACL Injuries & Reconstructive Surgery That Can Help Your Knee Problem

What is the ACL?

The acronym, ACL, stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament. This ligament is one of a few major ligaments in your knee that helps to control your leg, thigh and knee from movements that are unnatural. Along with your PCL, LCL, and MCL, the anterior cruciate ligament helps to provide stability to your knee. Due to its attachment on the femur and tibia allow the ACL to resist anterior translation of the tibia, in relationship to the femur.

ACL Surgery

ACL surgery uses Autografts, (which is a tissue or organ that is grafted from one tissue or organ in your body, somewhere else, in your body).
For example, ACL surgeries can use a patient's own hamstring or patellar tendon for example, in place of the torn ACL.

After having an ACL surgery, there is still a chance that a person can reinjure their Anterior Cruciate Ligament. If this does occur, a person can undergo a second ACL reconstruction. A bone graft may be needed, at this point, because of holes in the bone. The new screws in the second ACL reconstruction will need a firm hold. The bone graft allows for these holes to be filled, so that in consecutive ACL recontruction and the screws needed in this surgery will have a proper, well anchored fit.

What is an Allograft?

An allograft in this instance would be an ACL, or other useful tendon taken from one member of the human species and grafted to a genetically dissimilar person.
In an allograft, the anterior tibialis tendon, the Achilles tendon, or the patellar tendon can be used from a cadaver. When using an allograft, there is a possibility that the graft will be rejected. This may lead to another surgery to remove the graft and repeat the reconstruction process.

Recovery

The recovery period for this type of surgery will often include physical therapy, and make use of a well designed knee brace. Your physical therapist will work with you on range of motion (ROM) exercises. ROM exercises are used to regain the flexibility of the ligament. Moreover, ROM exercises are used to help prevent scar tissue from forming, and help maintain muscle tone. - In addition, the use of a post operative knee brace may be used to help provide support to your knee while it is in this vulnerable position. Later on, a functional acl knee brace can be used to help provide meaningful support as well in activities of daily living.

One of the benefits of a reconstructed ACL, is that there is a high success rate. Studies have shown that if the ACL retears, it will be due to a traumatic impact or severe injury, which are not exactly likely to happen unless you play in contact sports.

If you would like to get more free information just like this visit us online at http://www.drbraceco.com. We have quality knee braces that are endorsed by the US Ski team. Our education based site also has low cost options for knee braces that can help provide you with meaningful support.

References :

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

D'Amato MJ, Rach BR Jr (2003). Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the adult section of Anterior cruciate ligament injuries. In JC DeLee, D Drez Jr, eds., Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, 2nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 2012–2067. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Feller JA, Webster KE (2003). A randomized comparison of patellar tendon and hamstring tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 31(4): 564–573.