Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), is the ligament in the knee joint which connects the thigh bone with the shin bone and also provided stability and proper movement and normal functioning for a knee joint. An ACL injury may lead to various types of discomfort levels depending on the severity of the damage to the ligament. The type of injury to the ligament also will point towards the time it would take to heal, the type of treatment required and also the extent of discomfort that it would cause to the person. An ACL injury of the minor type may let the patient do his daily routines without much ado but a major type of injury could put you out of action for long and the pain could be of very excruciating levels. An ACL injury of minor or major type needs to be diagnosed immediately and proper care and treatment to be provided on an urgent basis as even a minor injury to the ligament could worsen over time and make it a major problem enough to be brought to the surgery table. So the important fact is that you should know the type and extent of injury to your ACL, which can then be treated and cured under the guidance and medical expertise of an ACL specialist. Dr. Manish Maheshwari has been the leading ACL reconstruction surgeon in Indore who has been able to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate many people suffering from minor to major ACL injuries. Dr. Manish Maheshwari is also a sports medicine specialist responsible for putting many sportsmen and women back into their game.
Let us look into some major types of ACL injuries. Several conditions of varying levels causing instability to ACL have been seen. Sprains, avulsion fractures, ACL deficiencies and complex ligament injuries are some major type of conditions that inflicts injury to the ACL. Many times it is seen that ACL occurs with associated damage to another part of the knee like another ligament, meniscus or articular cartilage.
Types of ACL injuries are described here below:
1. Grade I-ACL sprain: The mildest of the ACL injuries which could be treated without surgery is the Grade 1 ACL sprain. This occurs when the ligament is overstretched by does not cause a tear. The knee stability is not compromised in this case and some very light symptoms of tenderness, swelling, moderate pain and may also cause some movement limitation of the knee. It could be healed at home, with proper guidance from the knee joint specialist, by resting the knee along with medications and some support to avoid strain on the knee. Applying ice is also a part of the remedy and anti-inflammatory medicines could be taken if prescribed by your orthopedic doctor.
2. Grade II-ACL sprain: When the fibers of a ligament are partially torn a Grade II ACL sprain is said to have occurred. This injury is not very common and will also have the same symptoms of a Grade I ACL sprain, but the severity and intensity of the symptoms will be higher. The type of treatment for this type of tear would depend on the patient’s age, activity level, symptoms and fitness goal intended to be established.
3. Grade III ACL sprain: This type of injury to the ACL is more common in athletes. Fibers completely torn into two sections causing swelling, tenderness, severe pain and complete instability are termed as Grade III ACL sprain. Reconstruction surgery is most likely the treatment path for this type of injury. Dr. Manish Maheshwari is the top ACL reconstruction specialist in Indore.
4. Avulsion Fracture: This type of injury is more common in children and skiers. The injury occurs when the ligament tears by breaking a piece of the bone it is attached to, caused by overuse or muscular contractions.
5. ACL Deficient Knee: As the name suggests, the nonexistence of ACL in the knee is called ACL deficient knee. This can be treated in younger patients and in patients who are required to walk on the uneven landscape, by surgery. ACL deficiency can be overcome by decreasing activity but could cause collateral damage to the meniscus, cartilages and could also lead to osteoarthritis.
6. Complex and Multi-ligament injury: Injuries caused to ACL with or due to other injuries to other parts of the knee joint may be termed as Complex ligament injury.
Whatever the injury type it should be immediately shown to an expert and treatment to be started accordingly. It is of utmost importance not to delay type of injury from being treated, as it may cause a lot of complications and aggravation ahead.
Dr. Manish Maheshwari is the top orthopedic surgeon who does the best ACL reconstruction surgery in Indore, MP If are you looking the best arthroscopy surgeon in Indore, MP for arthroscopic knee surgery, come to the Indore Arthroscopy Center. Book an appointment today call now us at 9826252228 for more information.