Anterior cruciate ligament injury means overstretching or tearing (partial or complete) of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as found in the knee.
The ACL is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments (the other is the posterior cruciate ligament) in the human knee. They are also called cruciform ligaments - they are arranged in a crossed X-like position. In the quadruped stifle joint it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament. The ACL is one of the four main ligaments of the knee. The ACL provides 85% of the restraining force to anterior tibial displacement at 30 degrees and 90 degrees of knee flexion.
Read more about Traumatic knee injuries, their treatment and prevention in MediKa.bg
The knee joint is located where the end of the thigh bone (femur) meets the top of the shin bone (tibia).
There are 4 main ligaments that connect these two bones:
• Medial collateral ligament or MCL - runs along the inside of the knee, prevents the knee from bending in;
• Lateral collateral ligament or LCL - runs along the outside of the knee, prevents the knee from bending out;
• Anterior cruciate ligament or ACL - in the middle of the knee, prevents the shinbone from sliding in front of the thigh bone;
• Posterior cruciate ligament or PCL – is working with the ACL, prevents the shin bone from sliding backwards/under the femur;
It is known that female patients are more prone to an ACL tear than male patients.
Main causes for ACL
An Anterior cruciate ligament injury can occur if you get hit really hard on the side of your knee, or overextend the knee joint, or quickly stop and/or change direction while running, landing from a jump or turning. High-impact sports and basketball, football, soccer, snowboarding, ice skating, skateboarding, skiing are common sports that are linked to anterior cruciate ligament injury and tears.
Most anterior cruciate ligament tears occur in the middle of the ligament. Sometimes the ligament is pulled off the thigh bone. These conditions form a gap between the torn edges and they don’t heal on their own.
Symptoms
Among some of the earliest symptoms are:
Hearing a popping sound in the knee at the moment of injury
Visible swelling of the knee can occur within several hours after the injury
Pain with movement and trying to put weight on the suffering leg
Patients with mild injuries may have unstable feeling of the knee.
First aid
First aid and general treatment for an ACL injury may include:
• Raising the leg (above the heart level)
• Putting ice and bandaging of the injured knee
• Pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other prescribed medication
Injured patients should make an appointment to visit a specialist immediately.
Prevention
Always use proper techniques and protective equipment while engaging in sports or exercising.
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