An anterior cruciate ligament tear is an injury that affects one of the ligaments that stabilizes the knee. There are four primary ligaments that keep the knee stable. The anterior cruciate ligament can be distinguished from the others by where it is located as well as how it controls the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is attached to the femur. It runs through the knee joint, starting from the back of the joint, and extends to the top of the tibia.
An anterior cruciate ligament tear can have a serious effect on a person’s ability to move around and be as physically active as he would like. This is because the ligament stops the lower portion of a person’s leg from moving forward too far. It also stops the knee from rotating too much. When a person has an anterior cruciate ligament tear, he may experience extreme pain and find it impossible to move his leg normally. He may, for example, be unable to straighten his leg completely.
One of the symptoms of an anterior cruciate ligament tear is often a popping or cracking sound that is heard when the tear occurs. Besides pain, restricted movement, and this popping sound, a person may experience swelling and tenderness. He may also have the feeling that the knee has given out or become unable to help support his weight.
There are many things that can cause an anterior cruciate ligament tear. A person may develop a tear after twisting the wrong way, sustaining a hit to his knee, or landing badly after a jump. Often, this injury occurs during non-contact sporting activities. For example, these tears are more likely to occur when an athlete twists his leg accidentally while landing from a jump rather than when he is tackled during a football game.
Besides sports injuries, there are other ways in which an individual may develop an anterior crucial ligament tear. This type of tear can happen because of falls or other accidents at home or work. A tear can also result from playing or horsing around in a very rough manner. A person may sustain an anterior cruciate tear in a car accident as well.
Minor anterior cruciate tears can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This four-part treatment strategy is often referred to as RICE. In some cases, however, a patient needs surgery to repair the ligament or to reconstruct it using tissue from the patient's body or from a donor. Repair surgeries are usually less effective than reconstruction surgeries.
