Doctors for ACL tear in Bangalore

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial ligament in the knee joint that provides stability and prevents the shinbone from sliding over the thigh bone. ACL tears are common injuries that occur in athletes during sports that involve movements like pivoting, cutting, and planting, or ones that may result in an impact on the knee. This makes players of basketball, soccer, football, skiing, etc quite vulnerable to ACL injury.

ACL tears can be caused by both contact and non-contact injuries, and their severity can range from minor to severe. Women are more prone to ACL injury as compared to men. ACL tears cannot heal on their own and require special medical attention. The need for specific medical treatments becomes more critical if the injury is severe. Treatment options include surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. Early detection and timely treatment can assure a full recovery and help avoid long-term problems.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial ligament in the knee joint that provides stability and prevents the shinbone from sliding over the thigh bone. If the ACL is torn, treatment options depend on the severity of the injury. Nonsurgical treatment is an option for mild injuries, while more severe injuries require surgical intervention:

Nonsurgical Treatment for ACL Tears

• Rest: Activities that cause pain or discomfort should be avoided until the symptoms are relieved.
• Ice: Pain and swelling in the affected area can be relieved by applying ice packs. This can be done throughout the day for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
• Compression: Inflammation and swelling can be controlled by using a tight, elastic bandage to compress the affected knee.
• Elevation: Keeping the knee elevated above the waist can help manage the swelling in the knee.
• Knee brace: Wearing a knee brace can provide stability and support to the knee and prevent further injury.
• Physiotherapy: Physical therapy can help restore the range of motion of the knee and improve overall strength and flexibility.
• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) on prescription can aid with pain control and swelling reduction.

Surgical Treatment for ACL Tears

• ACL Reconstruction Surgery: A grade 2 or 3 ACL injury requires surgical treatment for reconstruction of the torn ligament. The most popular surgery for doing so is the minimally invasive ACL reconstruction surgery. A new tissue transplant is used by the surgeon to repair the injured ligament. This graft might be obtained from a donor or the patient's own body.
• Arthroscopic Surgery: This minimally invasive surgical procedure allows the surgeon to examine and treat the knee joint through small incisions. The procedure is used to repair or remove damaged tissues, including the ACL.
• Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis (LET): This surgical procedure involves reconstructing the lateral structures of the knee to provide additional support and stability to the knee joint.

One of the most important ligaments in the knee joint is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which provides stability and prevents the shinbone from slipping over the thigh bone. ACL tears are common in athletes, especially in sports that involve pivoting, cutting, and planting movements. The severity of an ACL tear determines the treatment option, and in some cases, surgery may be required:

• Complete ACL Tear: A complete ACL tear means the ligament is entirely ruptured, and the knee becomes unstable. Surgery is necessary to restore stability to the knee joint.
• Active Individuals: People who are very active in sports, exercise, or work that requires a stable knee joint may need surgery to repair the ACL. The chance of developing new knee problems may be lowered and more damage to the knee joint may be prevented with surgery.
• Partial ACL Tear: Sometimes the ACL is only partially injured. Surgery can be required if the damage is severe enough to compromise the stability of the knee joint.
• Young People: Younger individuals who are still growing and participating in high-impact sports are at a higher risk of injuring their ACL. For these individuals, surgery may be necessary to repair the ACL and prevent future knee problems.
• Inability to Perform Daily Activities: If an ACL tear is causing significant pain and preventing an individual from performing daily activities, surgery may be necessary to repair the ACL and restore knee function.

An ACL tear is a common knee injury that requires proper medical attention to determine its extent and severity. Before undergoing ACL tear operation in Bangalore, the doctor may conduct various tests and examinations to diagnose the injury and plan the treatment accordingly:

• Physical Examination: The doctor will examine the knee for signs of tenderness, inflammation, and swelling. The range of motion and strength of the knee will be examined with the help of passive motion tests. The most often used test to assess the severity of an ACL injury is the Lachman's Sign test.
• Knee X-Rays: Although X-rays cannot show any injury to the ligaments, they can show if there is any injury sustained on the bones as well.
• Knee MRI Scan: An MRI scan of the knee can provide clear images of the anterior cruciate ligament and can help confirm the diagnosis. Any additional knee issues, such as meniscus or cartilage loss, can be shown on an MRI.
• Arthroscopy: In some cases, the doctor may perform arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure to examine the knee joint. A small camera called an arthroscope is inserted into the knee joint by the surgeon during the procedure to view the degree of the damage.
• Arthrocentesis: Also known as joint aspiration, Arthrocentesis, is a diagnostic procedure that involves removing a sample of synovial fluid from the knee joint with a needle. This fluid is then analyzed to determine if there is any infection or inflammation present in the joint, and to rule out other conditions that may be causing the knee pain.Arthrocentesis is generally not used as the primary test to diagnose an ACL tear, but it may be done in cases where there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, or when the doctor suspects that there may be other underlying conditions that need to be ruled out. A needle is often inserted into the joint space to remove a tiny amount of fluid during this treatment, which is typically performed under local anesthetic.
• Knee Ultrasound: An ultrasound may be used to diagnose ACL tears, particularly in children or adolescents whose bones are not fully developed.
• Stress Radiographs: The stress radiograph test is another method of diagnosing ACL tears. The doctor applies pressure to the affected knee while taking an X-ray. This test can reveal any instability in the knee joint and confirm the diagnosis of an ACL tear.

ACL tear surgery is a commonly performed procedure to reconstruct a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. The surgery typically takes around 2-2.5 hours to complete, and the patient is usually given spinal or regional anesthesia to numb the lower half of the body. The ACL tear operation is performed using a minimally invasive technique, and the procedure can be broken down into the following steps:

• Anesthesia: Before the surgery, the patient is given spinal or regional anesthesia to numb the lower half of the body. Despite being awake the entire time, the patient doesn't experience any pain.
• Preparation in the operating room: The patient is positioned on the operating table, and the knee to be operated on is cleaned and sterilized. The surgical team sets up the equipment and prepares for the procedure.
• Arthroscopic examination: Small incisions are made in the knee to insert an arthroscope, a device with a camera at its end. As a result, the surgeon can see on a monitor what's going on inside the knee.
• Graft harvesting: A transplant is taken from either a donor or the patient's own body. The patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, and quadriceps tendon are the most often used grafts.
• Graft preparation: The harvested graft is prepared and sized appropriately to replace the damaged ACL.
• Reconstruction of the ACL: Using specialized instruments, the surgeon tunnels through the bone to create a pathway for the graft to be inserted. After that, screws or other fixation tools are used to anchor the graft in place.
• Closure: After the ACL has been reconstructed, the knee joint is washed out with a sterile solution, and the incisions are closed with stitches or staples.
• Recovery and discharge: After the surgery, the patient is taken to the recovery room to be monitored until the anesthesia wears off. The patient is subsequently transferred to a hospital room for additional recovery and observation. Physical therapy is usually recommended to aid in the healing process and to restore the knee's strength and range of motion.

Hospitalization after surgery usually lasts for 1-2 days to monitor the patient's recovery and manage any post-operative pain or complications.

ACL tear operation, also known as ACL reconstruction surgery, is a surgical procedure that is recommended to patients who have a completely torn ACL. Without surgery, the ligament cannot heal on its own, and over time, the patient may experience complete immobility. There are several benefits of ACL surgery, which are as follows:

• Restores complete stability and functionality of the knee joint: ACL surgery helps to restore the stability and strength of the knee joint, enabling the patient to return to normal activities without any difficulty.
• Restores the quality of life of the patient: ACL injuries can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. With ACL surgery, the patient can regain mobility and participate in daily activities without any restrictions.
• Less chance of recurrence of ACL tear as compared to conservative treatments: Conservative treatments such as physical therapy and bracing may help to reduce the pain and inflammation, but they do not provide long-term benefits. With ACL surgery, the chances of a recurrence of the ACL tear are significantly reduced.
• Less chance of cartilage degeneration in the future: A torn ACL can lead to cartilage degeneration in the knee joint, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. With ACL surgery, the risk of cartilage degeneration is significantly reduced.
• Can slow down the progression or completely prevent osteoarthritis: By restoring the stability and functionality of the knee joint, ACL surgery can help to slow down the progression or completely prevent the development of osteoarthritis.
• More cost-effective than physical therapy, bracing, and other non-surgical treatments: While ACL surgery may seem expensive, it is more cost-effective than long-term conservative treatments such as physical therapy and bracing.