Your knee consists of many different bones, muscles, and ligaments joining together, making it the largest and most complex joint in the body. When one ligament becomes stretched, torn, or severed, it can affect the entire joint. When this happens, it is important to get evaluated by a San Francisco sports medicine doctor.
ACL tears cause instability in the knee, which leads to pain, swelling, poor range of motion, and trouble walking and running. Luckily, modern medicine has made it easier than ever to recover from this formerly serious injury. A San Francisco knee doctor can advise you on new treatment strategies to support your recovery.
At The Institute for Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine (IASM), Dr. Jeffrey Halbrecht, an ACL surgeon in San Francisco, and his experienced team evaluate your ACL injury and let you know if you need surgery, or if your ACL tear can heal on its own.
Your ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is responsible for stabilizing your knee. The posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments form an ‘x’ inside the knee joint, and provide back-and-forth motion. Without the support of these ligaments, your tibia (shin bone) is at risk of sliding in front of your femur (thigh bone).
ACL injuries are common among athletes, especially women. Those who participate in high-demand sports like football, soccer, and basketball are also at risk of suffering an ACL tear. This injury is usually caused by:
There are three different types of sprains, ranging from slightly stretched to completely torn. ACL tears are usually accompanied by damage to other areas of the knee, including the meniscus or articular cartilage.
Your treatment will depend on the severity of your injury, your lifestyle, and your plans moving forward. While minor injuries to the ACL might heal on their own, it’s best to consult with a sports medicine doctor. Dr. Halbrecht is experienced in dealing with injuries to the knee joint, and he can give you a full diagnosis and treatment plan that caters to your needs.
Partial tears or sprains to the anterior cruciate ligament can be treated conservatively, especially if you don’t participate in sports or if you plan on pursuing less aggressive sports. Conservative care for ACL tears usually involves:
A severely torn ACL can’t be healed without surgery. Younger, more active patients who wish to return to sports will typically require surgery to fully recover.
Surgery for ACL injuries is highly specialized and constantly changing. ACL surgeries should be entirely arthroscopic, which means they’re done with limited incisions and small, precise tools. This method helps prevent complications and speed up recovery.
The anterior cruciate ligament can sometimes be repaired or re-tightened, but usually a full reconstruction is required. This can be done in three ways:
There are advantages and disadvantages for each option, and we’ll discuss which one is best for you when you come in.
If you’ve suffered an ACL tear, get in touch with Dr. Halbrecht and the team of ACL doctors at IASM in San Francisco, California. You can schedule a consultation by calling 415-233-7996, or book online with us today.
