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ACL Tear

What is ACL Tear?

An ACL tear is an injury, usually a partial or complete rupture of tissue to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is one of the primary ligaments that stabilize your knee joint. It runs diagonally through the center of the knee, connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It acts as a type of “seatbelt” that normally prevents excessive forward movement and rotational stability of the knee.

How did this happen? Possible Causes

ACL injuries are rarely the result of direct contact, and instead occur most often in “non-contact” athletic injuries such as:

  • Sudden stopping or changes in direction (cutting or pivoting sharply while the foot is planted).
  • Jumping and landing awkwardly without proper knee alignment.
  • Direct collision or blow to the side of the knee (common high risk sports like basketball, soccer, football, and skiing).

As a weekend warrior or committed athlete you should not ignore knee pain. Get it evaluated, and get off the sidelines, and begin the journey to reclaim your mobility by calling (817) 926-BONE (2663).

Do I need help? Possible Signs

If you’ve suffered an ACL tear, you will likely notice:

  • A “popping” sound and/or sensation at the time of injury.
  • Rapid swelling of the knee is significant within 2 to 6 hours of the injury.
  • Feeling of instability or the knee simply “giving out” sensation, making it feel impossible to bear weight.
  • Reduced or loss of range of motion, unable to bend or straighten the leg
  • Loss of Range: Difficulty fully straightening or bending the leg.
  • Severe Pain: Intense pain along the joint line that makes walking difficult.

How can we help? Possible Treatments

Explanation

The right choice for treatment for an ACL Tear depends entirely on your age, activity level, and the stability of your knee. Our providers will always walk you through the different treatment options and what will be best for you.

Non-Surgical

Best for: less active individuals, partial tears, or those willing to modify activity. Focus on restoring and strengthening the muscles around the knee to compensate for the lost ligament. The goal is to restore function and stability without surgery, but this can put you at a higher risk for meniscus tears and early arthritis down the road.

This is typically done using a variety of methods including:

  • Physical Therapy -Focuses on strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes
  • Bracing – functional knee brace to be used during the majority of activities and rehab.
  • Activity Modification – Moving to lower impact sports or activities.
  • Pain & Swelling Management – using rest, ice, elevation, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications for pain management.  
Surgical
  • ACL Reconstruction
    • This is not a quick and easy stitching back together, but rather surgeons reconstruct and replace the ACL with a graft (from your own tissue or a donor) from a piece of tendon from elsewhere in your body.
    • Commonly used for athletes who want to return to high-impact sports. Also, for those with knees that “buckle” or experience instability during everyday activities. Individuals who have a torn meniscus or other ligaments as well.
  • Surgeons will either use an autograft from your own tissue or an allograft, donor tissue, to repair the ACL.
  • Even after surgery, intense physical therapy is expected for 6-12 months.

Life after treatment

In both surgical and non-surgical treatments, you can expect stronger, more stable knees that should improve daily activities.

Book Your Appointment Today

We have helped hundreds of athletes and active individuals navigate this exact injury, and we know how overwhelming the choices can be. We can help by making your path simple and our focus on returning you to the activities you enjoy with the people you love. Book Your Appointment Today (817) 926 – BONE (2663).

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