ACL Tear

Orthocenter

Orthopedic Surgery located in Red Bank, Morganville, Holmdel & Eatontown, NJ

If you run in an active crowd, odds are you know someone who has torn their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). If you join this unfortunate group, it’s important that you receive the best care possible, and the expert orthopedic specialists at Orthocenter offer a number of highly effective solutions that get you back into the game as quickly as possible. If you suspect you’ve torn your ACL, call one of the three locations in Red Bank, Morganville, Eatontown and Holmdel, New Jersey, or use the online scheduling tool.

ACL Tear Q & A

What is the ACL?

Your knee contains four essential ligaments that work together to provide stability and movement, and, ultimately, to keep everything in place. Your posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments form an “X” inside your knee and control forward-and-backward movements. Your ACL, in particular, runs across the inside of your knee and keeps your tibia from moving out in front of your femur, while also providing you with rotational stability.

What Causes an ACL Tear?

Unlike many joint issues, an ACL tear is often caused by an acute injury, especially when you:

Turn or stop suddenly
Slow down while running
Land poorly after jumping
Incur direct trauma to your knee

When you injure your ACL, you may hear a popping noise inside your knee, which is followed by:

Swelling
Pain
Loss of range of motion
Difficulty walking

If you’ve applied the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) and your knee is still in pain, or getting worse, after 24 hours, it’s time to make an appointment at Orthocenter. The center is open for same-day appointments and offers an urgent care clinic at its Marlboro Township, New Jersey, location, which is also open on Saturdays.

What Happens During an ACL Repair?

The first order of business is assessing the degree of the injury, which your doctor does by reviewing your symptoms and ordering advanced imaging. ACL injuries are graded according to the following:

Grade I sprain: ACL stretched, but not torn
Grade II sprain: Partial tear in your ACL
Grade III sprain: Complete tear of your ACL

For complete and partial tears, the surgeons at Orthocenter offer arthroscopic repair of your ACL, often on an outpatient basis. Using specialized equipment, your surgeon goes in through very small incisions and completes the necessary repairs, which may include a patient-specific graft selection to reinforce or replace your ligament.

After your surgery, your surgeon’s goal is to get you back to your active lifestyle, which is why they work with you to accelerate your return to sports through physical therapy.

If you want to get back into the game as quickly as possible, call Orthocenter or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

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