Knee Ligament Repair

What is knee joint ligament repair?

Ligaments are bands of tough, rubberband connective tissue that environs a joint to give support and limit the joint's movement.

When ligaments are damaged, the knee joint may go unstable. Ligament harm often happens from a sports injury. A torn ligament severely limits knee movement. This results in the disability to pivot, plough, or twist the leg. Surgery is a choice to repair a torn ligament if other medical treatment is non effective.

Anatomical illustration of the knee joint

There are 4 major ligaments in the knee. The ligaments in the knee connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shin bone), and include the following:

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ligament, located in the center of the knee, that controls rotation and forward movement of the tibia (shin os).
  • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The ligament, located in the heart of the human knee, that controls backward motility of the tibia (shin os).
  • Medial collateral ligament (MCL). The ligament that gives stability to the inner knee.
  • Lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The ligament that gives stability to the outer knee.
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Why might I need a knee ligament repair?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located toward the front of the knee. It is the virtually common ligament to be injured. The ACL is oft stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way). Skiing, basketball game, and football are sports that have a college take a chance of ACL injuries.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located toward the back of the articulatio genus. It is also a mutual human knee ligament to exist injured. However, the PCL injury usually happens with sudden, directly affect, such as in a automobile accident or during a football tackle.

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is located on the inner side of the articulatio genus. It is injured more than oft than the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), which is on the outer side of the human knee. Stretch and tear injuries to the collateral ligaments are usually caused by a accident to the outer side of the knee, such equally when playing hockey or football.

Early medical treatment for human knee ligament injury may include:

  • Residual

  • Water ice pack application (to reduce swelling that happens within hours of the injury)

  • Compression (from an elastic bandage or brace)

  • Elevation

  • Pain relievers

A knee ligament tear may be treated with the following:

  • Musculus-strengthening exercises

  • Protective knee brace (for use during exercise)

  • Activity limitations

Knee ligament repair is a handling for a consummate tear of a knee ligament that results in instability in the human knee. People with a torn knee ligament may exist unable to exercise normal activities that involve twisting or turning at the knee. The knee may buckle or "give-way." If medical treatments are not satisfactory, ligament repair surgery may exist an effective treatment.

The surgery to correct a torn knee ligament involves replacing the ligament with a piece of salubrious tendon. A tendon from the kneecap or hamstring, for instance, is grafted into place to hold the knee joint together. The tendon graft may come from the person (autograft) or from an organ donor (allograft).

There may exist other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend a genu ligament repair.

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What are the risks of articulatio genus ligament repair?

Equally with whatsoever surgical procedure, complications tin can happen. Some possible complications may include the following:

  • Haemorrhage

  • Infection

  • Blood clots in the legs or lungs

Some people may experience pain, limited range of movement in the genu articulation, and occasional swelling in the knee after surgical ligament repair. Others have increased motion in the knee joint as the graft stretches over time.

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Exist sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.

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How practice I get ready for a knee ligament repair?

  • Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you and offer you the chance to ask any questions that you lot might have about the procedure.

  • You will be asked to sign a consent grade that gives your permission to do the process. Read the grade advisedly and ask questions if something is non clear.

  • In improver to a complete medical history, your healthcare provider may perform a consummate concrete exam to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the process. You lot may undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests.

  • Tell your healthcare provider if yous are sensitive to or are allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, and anesthetic agents (local and general).

  • Tell your healthcare provider of all medicines (prescribed and over-the-counter) and herbal supplements that you are taking.

  • Tell your healthcare provider if yous have a history of bleeding disorders or if yous are taking whatever anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect claret clotting. Information technology may be necessary for you to stop these medicines before the procedure.

  • If you lot are pregnant or suspect that you are meaning, you should notify your healthcare provider.

  • You will be asked to fast for 8 hours before the procedure, by and large after midnight.

  • Y'all may receive a sedative prior to the procedure to help you relax. Because the allaying may make you drowsy, yous will need to arrange for some to bulldoze you habitation.

  • Y'all may meet with a physical therapist prior to your surgery to discuss rehabilitation.

  • Arrange for someone to help around the house for a week or 2 afterward you lot are discharged from the hospital.

  • Based on your medical condition, your healthcare provider may request other specific preparation.

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What happens during a knee ligament repair?

Knee ligament repair may be performed on an outpatient footing or rarely every bit part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider'southward practices.

Knee ligament repair may be performed while you are asleep nether general anesthesia, or while y'all are awake under spinal anesthesia. If spinal anesthesia is used, you will accept no feeling from your waist down. Your healthcare provider will discuss this with y'all in accelerate.

Illustration of ACL repair surgery

Mostly, knee ligament repair surgery follows this process:

  • Yous will be asked to remove vesture and volition be given a gown to wear.

  • An intravenous (4) line may be started in your arm or mitt.

  • You will be positioned on the operating tabular array.

  • The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery.

  • The pare over the surgical site volition exist cleansed with an clarified solution.

  • The healthcare provider volition brand several small incisions in the genu area.

  • The healthcare provider will perform the surgery using an arthroscope (a small tube-shaped musical instrument that is inserted into a joint). The healthcare provider may reattach the torn ligament or reconstruct the torn ligament by using a portion (graft) of the patellar tendon (that connects the kneecap to the tibia), the hamstring tendon (from the dorsum of the thigh), or other autografts. The tendon graft may come from the person (autograft) or from an organ donor (allograft).

  • The healthcare provider volition drill small-scale holes in the tibia and femur where the torn ligament was attached.

  • The healthcare provider will thread the graft through the holes and attach it with surgical staples, screws, or other ways. Bone somewhen grows around the graft.

  • The incision will be airtight with stitches or surgical staples.

  • A sterile bandage or dressing will exist applied.

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What happens afterwards a knee joint ligament repair?

After the surgery you will be taken to the recovery room for ascertainment. Your recovery procedure will vary depending on the type of anesthesia that is given. In one case your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and yous are alert, you will exist taken to your hospital room or discharged to your home. Knee joint ligament repair is usually done on an outpatient footing.

You may be given crutches and a articulatio genus immobilizer earlier yous become home.

Once you are home, it is important to proceed the surgical area clean and dry. Your healthcare provider will requite you specific bathing instructions. The stitches or surgical staples will exist removed during a follow-upwards office visit.

Accept a hurting reliever for soreness every bit recommended past your healthcare provider. Aspirin or sure other pain medicines may increase the chance of haemorrhage. Be sure to accept only recommended medicines.

To help reduce swelling, you may be asked to drag your leg and apply an ice handbag to the human knee several times per day for the first few days. Your healthcare provider will arrange for an exercise program to help y'all regain musculus force, stability, and range of move.

Notify your healthcare provider to study whatsoever of the following:

  • Fever or chills

  • Redness, swelling, bleeding, or other drainage from the incision site

  • Increased pain around the incision site

You may resume your normal diet unless your healthcare provider advises you lot differently.

Because of the limited mobility, it may be difficult for a few weeks to resume your normal daily activities. You may demand someone at home to help you. Yous should not drive until your healthcare provider tells yous to. Other activeness restrictions may apply. Full recovery from the surgery and rehabilitation may take several months.

Your healthcare provider may give you additional or alternate instructions afterward the process, depending on your particular situation.