Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can occur as a result of a knee injury. can be sprained as a result of a knee injury. The ligament may be partially or completely torn, or it may avulse from its bony attachment. When the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is torn, the knee becomes unstable and is no longer able to respond effectively to rapid changes in direction or position. ACL injuries occur suddenly and are typically accompanied by pain and an audible popping sound. Patients commonly report an inability to return to activity, knee instability, and rapid swelling of the joint. Diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history and physical examination. Knee radiographs can rule out an avulsion fracture at the ligament attachment site but do not directly visualize ligament injury; therefore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Following an ACL sprain, the knee requires rest, cryotherapy, compression, and analgesics. Further treatment depends on the patient’s overall health, level of sports participation, and treatment goals. Management may include bracing, physical therapy, activity modification, or surgical ACL reconstruction, performed either acutely or as a delayed procedure. Risk factors for ACL injury include trauma, female sex (after puberty), improper landing technique, previous ACL sprain, participation in high-risk sports, uneven playing surfaces, fatigue, and participation in sports during adolescence, young adulthood, and middle age.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology