All you have to know about Knee Replacement

Knee Replacement Explained: What Patients Should Know

Overview:

You might need reconstructive surgery if you tear the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in your knee. At the knee joint, the ACL is a tough band of tissue that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It provides stability to the knee joint by running diagonally through the inside of the knee. Additionally, it aids in controlling the lower leg's back-and-forth movement.

Knee injuries caused by sports like skiing, tennis, squash, football, and rugby can result in ACL injuries. A very common knee injury is an ACL tear.

If your lower leg extends too far forward, you could tear your ACL. If your knee and lower leg are twisted, they can also tear.

Common causes of ACL injuries:

Incorrectly landing from a jump, abruptly stopping, changing direction, or colliding, such as during a football tackle, If the ACL is torn, your knee may become extremely unstable and lose its full range of motion.

Certain actions, like turning on the spot, may be challenging as a result. You might not be able to play some sports.

Deciding whether or not to undergo surgery The extent of your ACL damage, whether or not there is additional damage to your knee, and whether or not your quality of life is affected will all influence your decision to undergo knee surgery.

You may choose not to have ACL surgery if you live an active lifestyle and your knee feels stable.

However, if your knee gives way or becomes unstable, delaying surgery could cause additional damage.

After the swelling subsides, your doctor will discuss your options with you and determine if surgery is necessary, as well as whether rest and physical therapy have helped alleviate your symptoms.

Find out more about making the surgical decision:

Before having surgery, you may need to wait until your knee regains its full range of motion and any swelling has subsided before having ACL surgery.

Additionally, you may need to wait until the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles at the front and back of your thighs are as strong as they can be. Recovery will be more difficult if your knee does not have its full range of motion before surgery. The full range of motion is unlikely to return for at least three weeks after the injury.

Physiotherapy may be recommended to you before surgery to help you regain your knee's full range of motion. You might be shown some stretches that you can do at home to keep your leg flexible by your physiotherapist. They might also suggest low-impact workouts like cycling or swimming for fitness. For guidance, go to the charity Cycling UK's website.

Without putting too much stress on your knee, these kinds of activities will help you strengthen your muscles. You should not participate in any sports or activities that require you to twist, turn, or jump.

Find out more about getting ready for ACL surgery:

Surgery to reconstruct the ACL A torn ACL cannot be repaired by stitching it back together, but it can be reconstructed by grafting new tissue onto it. By replacing the torn ligament with a tendon from another part of the leg, like the hamstring or patellar tendon, the ACL can be reconstructed.

The patella (bottom of the kneecap) and the tibia (top of the shinbone) are connected by the patellar tendon. Find out more about the procedure for ACL reconstructive surgery here. Risks of ACL surgery in more than 80% of cases, ACL surgery completely restores knee function.

However, your knee might not be as good as it was before the injury, and you might still be experiencing some pain and swelling. This could be because of other knee injuries, like tears or damage to the cartilage, that happened before or after the ACL injury.

Knee surgery carries a small risk of infection, a blood clot, knee pain, and weakness and stiffness in the knee, as with all surgical procedures.

Learn more about ACL surgery's risks:

After surgery, recovery Some people may still experience knee pain or instability after reconstructive ACL surgery. Recovery from surgery typically takes six months, but it could take up to a year before you can resume full sports training.

The knee is made up of three bones that meet:

four ligaments connect the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia), and the kneecap (patella). There are two collateral ligaments on each side of the knee and two cruciate ligaments inside the knee. Ligaments are tough connective tissue bands. The ligaments in the knee help keep the knee stable and hold the bones together.