Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a serious pathology of the knee bone joint, which occurs as a result of a very large load or injury to the leg. A person faced with such a problem needs the help of professional traumatologists and surgeons. The recovery period after such an injury is at least 9 months, although its duration may increase or decrease.
Causes of pathology and its symptoms
Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligaments occurs due to too much stress on the joint, which is very often observed in athletes, as well as due to impact during a fall (car accidents, careless cycling, skiing). Not a single person is immune from such a situation.
The symptoms of an injury are quite simple. The patient has swelling of the damaged area with reddening of the skin (due to intra-articular hemorrhage). Naturally, the victim feels a sharp and severe pain. Regardless of whether a complete or partial rupture has occurred, the patient does notcan walk and even step on the foot. Anterior cruciate ligament tear can also be accompanied by unnatural joint mobility. Naturally, after injury, you should immediately consult a doctor for a follow-up examination. Delay can be fraught with consequences: arthritis of the joint or other bone diseases. The examination is carried out using a visual examination of the damaged area, X-ray and MRI.
Conservative treatment of pathology
Anterior cruciate ligament tear can be repaired with physical therapy, leg restraint, and medication. In order to relieve pain in the damaged area, you must immediately apply a cold compress to the knee. Heat in this case is not recommended, as it will provoke severe hemorrhage into the joint. In addition, the patient may be prescribed painkillers (drugs "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac") with anti-inflammatory effect. During the healing period of the ligament, it is necessary to limit the mobility of the leg with tight bandages or bandages. Since the therapy requires subsequent rehabilitation, the patient is prescribed massage, physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy procedures. Treatment for an ACL tear should be gentle.
Surgery: is it necessary?
If the pathology is very serious, that isthe ligaments are torn completely, then the patient needs the help of surgeons. Intervention is quite simple. For this, even general anesthesia is not always used. For the operation, a special device is used - an endoscope, which allows you to work through very small incisions.
If the ligament cannot be stitched together, a prosthetic procedure is possible. In this case, both the patient's own tissues and artificial material can be used. Anterior cruciate ligament tear, the treatment of which requires further rehabilitation, cannot be cured on its own. Therefore, seek immediate medical attention.
