No one likes to be sidelined with a musculoskeletal injury, but accidents happen. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are fairly common in sports that require a lot of quick twisting and turning like soccer, football, basketball, and tennis. However, you can also tear your ACL by missing a stair and twisting your leg while falling down.
Coastal Empire Orthopedics’ board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, treats all types of ACL injuries, from a stretched ligament to a partial or full tear, at our office in Savannah, Georgia. Dr. Shults evaluates your injury and recommends either conservative treatment or surgery, depending on the severity of the tear, your age, your medical history, and your activity level.
If you have a complete tear of your ACL, the ligament is stretched beyond its capacity and is torn into two pieces. A complete tear won’t heal on its own. If you love to play sports, either as a weekend warrior or a competitive team player, you’ll need surgery to enable you to get back into competition.
If you’re a senior, aren’t that active, and you’re not in pain, you may be able to heal well enough with conservative treatment as long as your leg isn’t unstable. If you still have instability after conservative treatment, you’re at risk of a fall.
But how do you know if that injury you have is a torn ACL? Here are some common symptoms to look for.
You’ve been in an accident or had a fall, and you’ve hurt your leg. If you have extreme pain in your knee, especially when you try to move it, you may have a complete or partial ACL tear.
If you hear and feel a pop in your knee at the time of the accident, you likely have a full ACL tear. The ligament is stretched to the point where it breaks into separate pieces.
If you have an ACL tear, you may not be able to bear weight on the leg. If you try, your leg might buckle; the knee has no stability. If you’re on a ski slope, court or game field, you’ll be taken off on a stretcher or gurney.
Your knee is very swollen. Until you can get medical help, keep the leg elevated and apply an ice pack on the leg periodically. Never put ice directly on your skin, however; wrap it in a towel or something similar.
ACL injuries cause loss of range of motion. You’re unable to bend or straighten your knee.
If you tear your ACL, Dr. Shults provides expert care to ensure you’re on the road to recovery. Conservative treatment includes using the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation), the temporary use of pain relievers, physical therapy, bracing, and making a gradual return to physical activity and sports.
If surgery is needed, Dr. Shults uses arthroscopy to help you recover as quickly and as safely as possible.
Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online today for all of your musculoskeletal concerns.
