ACL and Ligament Injuries

Ligaments are the tough, flexible tissues that connect two bones or cartilages or hold together a joint. The knee has four main ligaments: the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. When the knee is suddenly twisted or directly impacted, these ligaments can be injured.

The anterior cruciate ligament (commonly called the ACL) is one of four main ligaments in the knee and essentially serves as its main stabilizer. It provides stability in the knee through protection of anterior translation (forward sliding movement of the knee), as well as rotational control. This allows individuals the ability to perform cutting and pivoting activities (suddenly changing direction when running and walking). With an injury to your ACL, these activities are more difficult as the knee can continue to give way.

The most injured of the ligaments is the ACL, and not just by athletes. Over 250,000 ACL injuries occur annually within the general population. These tears often result in surgery, extensive physical therapy, significant time away from recreational activities, and a likelihood of arthritis within 10 years.

Most commonly, ACL injuries occur during sports, although they can happen to people who are not athletes as well. ACL tears are sometimes the result of impact and can also occur as a result of twisting injuries. The injury is most often the result of one of the following:

Symptoms commonly include:

The ACL cannot heal on its own, except in rare cases of a partial tear. However, different individuals tolerate tears differently. For many athletes, whether that is the “weekend warrior” or a professional, surgery is required. The orthopedic surgeons at MedStar Health will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. There are two main categories for surgical repair, both of which can be done during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute

Different patients fall into different categories of surgery based on their age, anatomy, sports activities, and features of their tear found in MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging). We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach, as some surgical methods are better for some types of injuries versus others. Our surgeons customize our approach to your recovery to meet your unique needs.