ACL injuries are frequent among athletes as well as those who play sports. The ACL is a crucial ligament in the knee that provides stability and supports actions like pivoting, jumping, and abrupt shifts in direction. Unfortunately, due to its poor healing potential, ACL Reconstruction or surgery is often required to restore full knee function after a tear.
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If you’ve been diagnosed with an ACL injury, knowing the procedure for ACL reconstruction and the function of an experienced ACL surgeon, and advancements in surgical techniques can help you make informed decisions about your treatment.
The Role of the ACL and Why Reconstruction is Often Required
The ACL is the ligament that connects your tibia and femur. It plays a crucial part in stabilizing your knee during movements. When the ACL is torn, whether from a sudden twist, falling awkwardly, or during intense sports, the knee’s stability is significantly diminished. ACL tears are characterized by swelling, pain and the sensation that your knee is “giving out”.
ACL injuries do not heal themselves and, while they may be treated with rest or rehabilitation in some cases, surgery is usually the best solution. ACL surgery typically involves fixing the ACL in the rare instances, or reconstructing it with the use of a tendon-graft.
What is ACL Reconstruction Surgery
ACL reconstruction involves the replacement of a damaged ACL ligament by a new graft. The graft can come from the body of the patient or another donor. The patellar and quadriceps tendons (BTB) are two of the most popular grafts. Each graft provides unique advantages:
Quadriceps tendon: Due to its high strength and a lack of complications at the donor site, this graft offers solid stability, particularly for those who are returning to high-impact sports.
Patellar Tendon (BTB): It is often referred to as the “gold standard” in ACL reconstruction, this graft is suitable for people who require maximum stability.
Dr. Burnham, a fellowship-trained ACL surgeon has conducted extensive studies on these graft options, with excellent results in terms of knee stability, durability, and minimal long-term complications.
Advancements in ACL Reconstruction Techniques
The past experience has been that ACL reconstruction methods placed the graft in an unnatural position, meaning it didn’t coincide with the original ligament’s natural location. This approach often led to inadequate results, which included lower stability and increased risk of re-injury. New advances in surgical technology, imaging research and other factors have transformed the method by which ACL reconstructions are conducted.
Today, skilled ACL surgeons like Dr. Burnham use advanced techniques to place the new ligament exactly where the initial ACL was located. This anatomical placement aligns the new ligament with the knee’s normal mechanics, and improves stability and function. This precision has many benefits and benefits, such as:
In reducing the risk of the re-injury
Better long-term knee health
A lower risk of developing arthritis
Precision Matters: The Value of Graft Sizing
The success of an ACL reconstruction is contingent on the appropriate size of the graft for the patient. Utilizing MRI imaging combined with direct surgical observations, the surgeon can customize the graft to fit each patient. A graft that’s small could not be stable enough, while a graft which is too large can lead to complications. ACL surgeons can speed up the process of healing and functional by customizing every procedure to the individual patient.
Why choose a fellowship-trained ACL surgeon?
The knowledge of your surgeon is crucial in the success of ACL surgery. Fellow-trained ACL surgeons, such as Dr. Burnham, have specialized knowledge and expertise in managing knee injuries of a complex nature. They’re equipped with the latest surgical techniques and can provide individual care for each patient, leading to improved outcomes.
Long-term and Recovering benefits
Following ACL reconstruction, most patients can anticipate a gradual return to their former level of activity with the proper rehabilitation. Physical therapy plays a major role in recovering. It helps to strengthen surrounding muscles and regain flexibility.
ACL surgery has improved through the years, which results in more long-term benefits, for example, a lower chance of re-injury as well as increased knee stability. Modern ACL reconstruction methods can help you resume your active lifestyle and returning to sports.
Final Thoughts
ACL reconstruction is advancing due to the advancement of technology research, the experience of trained fellowship-trained ACL surgeons like Dr. Burnham. Today’s techniques are based on precision, individualized care as well as advanced imaging. This provides patients with the greatest chance of long-term recovery as well as knee health.
Consult with an ACL surgeon if there is an ACL injury. They will guide you through the various options to get the best result.