Cruciate ligament rupture – surgery or not?
A rupture of the cruciate ligament is one of the most common sports injuries. There are 2 cruciate ligaments in the knee, the anterior and the posterior cruciate ligament. The anterior cruciate ligament pulls from the outer surface of the medial condyle to the inner surface of the lateral condyle and inhibits hyperextension of the knee joint.
The posterior cruciate ligament pulls from the outer surface of the lateral condyle to the inner surface of the medial condyle and inhibits hyperextension of the knee joint. Both cruciate ligaments together ensure proprioception in the joint, i.e. physiological joint position and stabilization of the knee joint during movement. The typical injury mechanism is a rotation of the knee with fixed lower leg.
This often occurs in skiing, soccer or other sports in general, where a lot of compression is required. The cruciate ligaments can no longer withstand these strains, resulting in a tear or rupture of the cruciate ligament. With the injury mechanism mentioned above, the most common injury is to the anterior cruciate ligament, inner meniscus and inner ligament, also known as “unhappy triad”.
Immediately after a rupture of the cruciate ligament, it is important to immobilize the leg and have it examined directly by the doctor. Usually surgery is necessary if the muscles surrounding the knee are not strong enough to compensate for the lack of stability. This article may also be of interest to you: Torn knee ligament or torn knee ligament – Treatment and important informationThe attending physician decides whether surgery is necessary for a ruptured cruciate ligament.
If the knee is too unstable due to the rupture, an operation is scheduled. If the muscles can compensate for the instability, conservative treatment is preferred. The operation should be performed within the first 24-48 hours.
If an operation is performed within this time, the healing process is naturally faster than if, on the other hand, one waits 4-6 weeks for the wound to heal. If the torn cruciate ligament can be fixed, bioabsorbable screws are used to bring it back into position. If the ligament is too damaged, the vision of the semitendinosus, gracilis or patellar tendon is removed and used as a cruciate ligament.
This type of surgery has now proven to be the most common. A rupture of the cruciate ligament is one of the most common sports injuries and is usually caused by a rotational movement of the knee with a fixed lower leg. Mostly the anterior cruciate ligament, inner meniscus and the outer ligament are affected.
In post-treatment, the muscular structure of the muscles surrounding the knee is extremely important so that the knee can continue to absorb the strain in everyday life but also during sports. Stretching exercises and massages are used to restore the elasticity of the musculature after a longer period of rest. Coordination training is especially important to improve the stability of the knee and can be done through various exercises and with the help of various aids.
If the stability of the knee is no longer guaranteed after a rupture of the cruciate ligament, an operation must be performed. Tendon reconstruction has proven to be a good method until today.
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