Surgical method to restore the function of the anterior cruciate ligament anterior cruciate ligament surgery It is called. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries occur more frequently in people who do sports such as basketball, football, skiing and gymnastics as a result of sudden movements and turning. Anterior cruciate ligament surgery It is a closed surgery. It takes approximately 1-1.5 hours. The possibility of risks such as bleeding, infection, and pain is very low.

After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

After the surgery, the patient stays in the hospital for 1 night and starts physical therapy shortly after. The physical therapy and rehabilitation process is very important for the patient to regain the muscle masses he lost after the surgery. This should be started as soon as possible.

Physical Therapy After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

Anterior cruciate ligament surgery Post-operative physical therapy lasts an average of 6-9 weeks. This situation can last up to 12 weeks. When physical therapy is applied without interruption, the patient can regain his/her health as soon as possible and start his/her old sports activities again.

HEn cruciate ligament surgery Some of the physical therapy exercises performed afterwards are as follows.

Knee Stretch

• Sit on the floor and stretch your legs forward.
• Pass a towel under your heels, holding the ends.
• Slide your heel back and pull it towards you, along with the towel, without lifting it off the ground.
• When you feel a pull in your knee, you can wait 10 seconds, slide your foot forward and release it slowly.

Bicycle Exercise

• You can do this movement every day for 5-10 minutes at a constant pace.

What Causes Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?

The cause of most knee ligament injuries, especially the anterior cruciate ligament, is known as sports injury.

• sudden slowdown
• sudden change of direction
• Falling unevenly after jumps
• Sudden rotation of the knee
• Anterior cruciate ligament injuries may occur due to situations such as a blow to the knee.

According to a study, female athletes are more likely to suffer from anterior cruciate ligament injuries than male athletes. Although the reason for this is unknown;

• physical condition
• muscle strength
• Increased looseness in ligaments
• Estrogen

There may be effects caused by situations such as the different anatomical age of the region where the anterior cruciate ligament is located.

What Happens If Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Is Untreated?

If the anterior cruciate ligament injury is left untreated, the cartilage is exposed to excessive load due to inappropriate movements of the knee joint and the risk of knee arthritis increases. In addition, the patient may have difficulty performing sports activities. Since it is more common in people who do sports, anterior cruciate ligament injury must be treated if the person wants to continue sports.

Treatment Methods

The method to be applied in the treatment is decided according to the level of injury of the anterior cruciate ligaments. For the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in people interested in sports, surgery is usually applied so that the patient can return to sports. However, if the anterior cruciate ligament injury does not cause any complaints in the person's daily life and the athlete does not want to continue his sports, non-surgical methods can also be applied.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Non-Surgical Treatments

• Rest: Resting the knee in anterior cruciate ligament injuries is an effective method to relieve both swelling and pain.
• Ice Treatment: You can apply ice treatment to the knee for approximately 20-25 minutes, several times a day.
• Bandage: People with swelling and pain can wrap their knee with a bandage.
• Height: While resting, placing something like a pillow under your foot and elevating it to your heart level will be effective in reducing leg swelling.