Approximately 200,000 people throughout the United States experience an ACL injury each year, while 95,000 people sustain complete ruptures. Those who participate in high-activity sports like basketball, football, and downhill skiing tend to experience ACL tears at a higher rate than others. The ACL serves to connect the tibia (shinbone) to the femur (thighbone) and provides a particular type of stability that protects the shinbone from moving under the thighbone.
When someone makes a sudden movement that sees them pivot from one direction to another, the ACL can tear. When this occurs, patients feel an immediate loss of stability and strength in their knee, making it difficult to stand up and apply weight to the affected area. ACL injuries present significant long-term concerns because when a ligament tears, it can never be completely repaired even when the tear is minor.
ACL Injuries
Close to 1 in 3,000 Americans between the ages of 15 and 60 experience an ACL tear while participating in some type of physical activity to sport. Still, this type of injury can effect anyone regardless of their age or family history. Because of how common ACL tears are, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) report that over 100,000 reconstruction surgeries occur as a means for treating the injury.
Although invasive treatment solutions always contain a particular level of risk, reconstruction is highly recommended for those who are interested in returning to an active lifestyle or are committed to playing a major sport. Reconstruction may be recommended even if you are not heavily active but are unable to perform routine tasks like walking or climbing stairs.
Allowing our Atlanta orthopedic doctors to follow through with this type of treatment allows us to stabilize the affected knee and protects patients from damage to the menisci cartilage that tends to take place because of a loose joint. Orthopedic surgeons take a part of the patient’s own tendon or use some type of cadaver to repair and reconstruct the injured area. Reconstruction surgery has close to a 100 percent success rate and most patients are able to experience a complete recovery when they incorporate physical therapy into their treatment plan.
Contact AICA Orthopedics For ACL Injury Relief
You can learn more about our approach to treating ACL injuries and understand what treatment options are available by contacting our clinic to schedule a consultation or an examination. Just dial (404) 855-2141 to speak with one of our staff members about your needs.