Sunday, September 9, 2007

Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Cruciate Ligament Injuries
These are sometimes referred to as sprains.3 They don’t necessarily
cause pain, but they are disabling. The anterior cruciate
ligament is most often stretched or torn (or both) by a
sudden twisting motion (for example, when the feet are
planted one way and the knees are turned another). The
posterior cruciate ligament is most often injured by a direct
impact, such as in an automobile accident or football tackle.
Symptoms
You may hear a popping sound, and the leg may buckle
when you try to stand on it.
Diagnosis
The doctor may perform several tests to see whether the
parts of the knee stay in proper position when pressure is
applied in different directions. A thorough examination is
essential. An MRI is accurate in detecting a complete tear,
but arthroscopy may be the only reliable means of detecting
a partial one.
Treatment
For an incomplete tear, the doctor may recommend an exercise
program to strengthen surrounding muscles. The doctor
may also prescribe a brace to protect the knee during activity.
For a completely torn anterior cruciate ligament in an active
athlete and motivated person, the doctor is likely to recommend
surgery. The surgeon may reconstruct torn ligament
by using a piece (graft) of healthy tissue from you (autograft)
or from a cadaver (allograft). Although synthetic ligaments
have been tried in experiments, the results have not been as
good as with human tissue. One of the most important elements
in a successful recovery after cruciate ligament surgery
is a 4- to 6-month exercise and rehabilitation program that
may involve using special exercise equipment at a rehabilitation
or sports center. Successful surgery and rehabilitation
will allow the person to return to a normal lifestyle.

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