Anterior Cruciate Ligament Arthroscopic Repair PreOp® Patient Education

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This is a feature PreOp® Surgery Video ©2010 MedSelfEd, Inc.
Your doctor has told you that you have a torn anterior cruciate ligament in your knee and has recommended arthroscopic surgery in order to repair it. But what does that actually mean?

The knee is one of the most complex and one of the most important joints in your body.

It is made up of bone, ligament and cartilage. Damage to any individual part can dramatically restrict the normal movement of the leg and can even interfere with the ability to walk.

Let's take a look at the way the knee joint is put together. The femur, or thigh bone, meets the fibula and tibia to create a flexible joint called the knee. Helping to stabilize the knee are the ligaments.
Patient Education
The ligaments in the knee are strong, flexible cords of tissue that hold the bones together. They maintain stability and allow the normal range of motion when you walk or run. The anterior cruciate ligament - or ACL -- guides the tibia, or shin bone. It helps keep your feet below your knees and your legs from buckling as you walk.

Twisting or bending the knee during sports or other strenuous activity can damage the ligament.

During an injury, patients often report feeling or even hearing a sudden "pop" in their knee at the exact moment when the ligament tears.

Other symptoms include swelling, restricted movement, pain and even the inability to stand on the affected leg.

This is a feature PreOp® Surgery Video ©2010 MedSelfEd, Inc.

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Education

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