The four ligaments in the knee are:
The medial collateral
ligament (MCL), and the lateral
collateral ligament (LCL), which both stabilise side-to-side movement.
The anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) limits the knee’s forward movement, while the posterior
cruciate ligament (PCL) limits backward movement of the joint.
The ligaments can be torn or ruptured by any of the following: blow to the knee, twisting, pivoting, sudden change of direction, landing from a jump.
Tears to all of these ligaments are treated by Simon Moyes using . The most common procedure is anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (see below).
You will see a marked, immediate swelling around the knee (within three hours of the injury). You may also feel a popping sensation at the moment that the injury occurs. After the injury, you will experience difficulty walking or straightening your knee, and pain on movement. You’re also likely to experience a feeling of instability, or the knee ‘giving way’.
The surgeon will carry out stress tests and tests on the mechanics of the knee – for example, if the joint feels very lax, or loose, it can indicate a torn ACL. X-rays are often taken to rule out other damage to the joint, while MRI scans are able to identify the presence and extent of the tear.
Successful ACL reconstruction surgery tightens your knee and restores its stability. It also helps you avoid further injury and helps you get back to playing sports.
The most common form of orthopaedic ACL surgery is known as autograft. This involves moving (or harvesting) a section of tendon from a different part of your leg (it could be the patellar tendon, a medial hamstring or the quadriceps tendon). Small holes are drilled into the shin bone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur), and the tendon is threaded in. Tiny screws are then put through the tendon and bone so that the graft can ‘take’ effectively.
After ACL reconstruction, you'll need to do rehabilitation exercises to gradually return your knee to full flexibility and stability. You may need to use a knee brace for a while and will probably have to stay out of contact sports for about one year after the surgery.