ACL surgery is a reconstruction or repairing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is a crucial knee soft-tissue component that links the tibia to the femur. ACL tears, whether partial or full, are a common injury among athletes.
Typically, sports medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons treat complete ACL injuries with ACL reconstruction operation, in which the torn ligament is replaced with a tissue transplant that mimics the normal ACL.
Physiatrists, sports medicine specialists, and orthopedic surgeons, as well as radiologists and rehabilitation professionals, cooperate to find the optimal treatment choice for each patient.
Because persons who have had an ACL injury are more prone to develop knee osteoarthritis sooner in life than those who have not, clinicians and scientists are also constantly researching ACL surgery approaches to better the short-term and long-term results for patients. If you are looking for the best ACL surgeon in Delhi NCR, then continue reading!
How soon should you get ACL surgery?
ACL restoration surgery is typically planned between three and six weeks following a total ACL tear. It permits the area’s irritation to diminish. If surgery is performed too soon, individuals may develop arthrofibrosis, a severe scarring reaction.
Orthopedic surgeons determine the date of reconstructive surgery depending on the following factors:
- The physical look of the knee, the amount of discomfort, the patient’s range of motion, and the quality of muscular control when flexing (bending) or extending (straightening) the leg.
- Some data show that postponing ACL reconstruction surgery for six months or longer after damage decreases the likelihood of a clinically meaningful result and increases the likelihood of subsequent revision procedures.
How long does it take to recover after ACL surgery?
Based on the level of competition and the kind of exercise, it typically takes between six and nine months for a patient to return to sports following ACL surgery.
Upon surgery, patients can walk with crutches and a leg brace. The patient immediately begins a rehabilitation regimen to restore knee strength, stability, and range of motion. A sequence of exercises constitutes the rehabilitation procedure:
- Early on in the recuperation phase, strengthening and range-of-motion activities are begun.
- About four months in, running workouts begin.
- At around five months, pivoting exercises are initiated.
- Return to competitive sports might begin as early as six months after cessation.
- Variable levels of pain associated with ACL healing can be effectively managed with medication. Recovery duration also differs across patients. The complete recovery of a patient is determined by the restoration of muscular strength, range of motion, and proprioception in the knee joint.
Arthroscopic surgical procedures have improved recovery periods for ACL restoration to shorter and less difficult compared to traditional open surgery.
To obtain a satisfactory outcome, however, the patient must undergo rehabilitation under the watchful supervision of a qualified physical therapist and attend follow-up sessions with the surgeon. DR A K SHARMA is the professional best ACL surgeon in Noida.
