ACL Tear Specialist
-
- Tweet
OrthoTeam Clinic
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine located in Madison & Stoughton, WI
Tearing an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) can be a devastating injury, but surgical advancements have made this injury easier to recover from than ever before. At the OrthoTeam Clinic in Madison & Stoughton, Wisconsin, Dr. Rawal offers both minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to reconstruct your ACL tear or ACL repair using the BEAR implant to restore the ACL. To learn more about how you can bounce back from an ACL tear, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
ACL Tear Q&A
What is an ACL?
Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects your femur (the bone in your thigh) to your tibia (the bone in your shin). The ACL runs diagonally across the front of your knee, stabilizing it as you move. Without your ACL, your knee can be unstable leading to inability to perform sports and other activities. This instability can lead to further injury to the cartilage, meniscus, and bones. ACL tears do not have the ability to heal on their own and may require surgical treatment to restore stability to the knee.
How do I know if I have an ACL tear?
Many people hear their ACL tear. If you heard a popping sound and immediately noticed pain or decreased stability in your knee afterward, it’s likely that you tore your ACL. You may also notice swelling in the area afterward.
ACL tears most commonly occur when people are playing sports, although they can happen any time you put excess strain on your ACL. You can tear your ACL by:
- Changing direction, especially rapidly
- Slowing from a run
- Landing from a jump
You can also tear your ACL as a result of direct contact with your knee, as is especially common in tackle sports.
If you suspect you have a torn ACL, reserve an appointment at OrthoTeam Clinic to properly diagnose an ACL tear and other injuries that commonly occur along with ACL tears. After appropriate diagnosis, a personalized treatment plan can be designed.
How is an ACL tear treated?
Because the torn ACL won’t heal on its own, the OrthoTeam Clinic can help create a plan to treat your knee. For most people, an arthroscopic outpatient ACL reconstruction can successfully restore stability to the knee. Arthroscopic assisted ACL reconstruction can be performed through extremely small incisions on your knee, using a thin tool called an arthroscope, which has a camera mounted at the end. This minimally invasive procedure lessens your risk and shortens your recovery period.
Additionally, Dr. Rawal performs ACL repair with the BEAR implant to restore the ACL.
To learn more about how Dr. Rawal can help you quickly heal from an ACL tear, call OrthoTeam Clinic or reserve your appointment online today.
Helpful Information:
