Rupture of anterior cruciate ligament

As practice shows in recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of joint injuries. Moreover, today more and more people are facing them at a fairly young age. Traditionally, the knee joint is considered to be the most injured , and the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus is the most common of all injuries. Thus, the joint defeats significantly younger.

The anterior cruciate ligament ensures that the tibia is retained from excessive forward bias. Her defeat is less common than a meniscus injury. Most often the rupture of cruciate ligaments occurs in professional athletes.

Injury can occur with a sharp stop during the fixation of the leg. The rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament often occurs against the background of a sharp increase in the load on the knee. The cause of the injury may be a strong blow to the lower limb.

The patient has a feeling that there is a shift of the thigh against the shin. Often the anterior cruciate ligament rupture occurs against a background of instability in the knee joint.

In many cases, trauma is mistaken for a dislocation. However, it should be noted that the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is considered less severe and occurs more often. Such an injury often occurs as a result of an accident or after a severe impact on the limb by a heavy object. When the shin is dislocated with respect to the hip, all ligaments are torn as a rule.

X-ray examination or MRI is used as diagnostic measures. Clinical tests and additional studies can identify the affected ligament, assess the condition of soft tissue articular, cartilaginous and ligamentous structures.

After specifying the area of the lesion immediately after the injury, treatment is prescribed. Therapeutic measures are directed, first of all, to reducing edema and (cupping) the elimination of pain syndrome. Physiotherapeutic and anti-inflammatory treatment is used for these purposes. Further measures are aimed at restoring the motor volume and returning the patient to his habitual lifestyle and activity level.

In many cases, when the anterior ligament is ruptured, surgical intervention is prescribed. Today the operation is performed by arthroscopic method. This method, unlike the open version used in previous years, is more sparing. During the operation, access is made through several punctures. In this case, a special optical equipment is introduced into the joint, which transmits what is happening inside it to the screen.

The ligament is made with the help of a transplant of the tendon, patella, tender or semitendinous femoral muscle.

The rehabilitation and recovery stage consists of four periods.

First, puffiness and soreness is removed with the help of physical exercises in combination with other methods of conservative therapy, and also the motor function is restored.

The second period involves strengthening the quadriceps muscle of the thigh. Due to this, an increase in the number of movements occurs. In this work is aimed at restoring joint stability in the process of walking.

Then the load increases, the endurance is trained, the ability to continue to move without muscle pain. The patient is allowed to run.

The fourth period of recovery is characterized by complete recovery. In this case, the patient can return to the usual level of activity for him.

You can start work, as a rule, after three to five weeks after the injury. Complete recovery from surgery and the ability to continue playing sports takes place six to eight months after plastics.