Cruciate ligament rupture in Dnipro

The knee joint is a connection between the femur, tibia and kneecap, which are held together by intra-articular and collateral ligaments. With its help, you can bend and straighten your leg. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are responsible for the stability of the joint during movement. If at least one of them ruptures, the knee loses stability, which subsequently leads to damage to the cartilage in the knee joint.

A cruciate ligament rupture can happen not only during sports, but also in everyday life: from a fall or a hit.

Causes of anterior cruciate ligament rupture

There are many causes of anterior cruciate ligament rupture:

• Injury. The ligament can rupture if there is a sudden change in direction of movement, if you fall on your leg, if you hit your knee, or if you are severely sprained.
• Sports injury. Anterior cruciate ligament rupture is common among athletes who play contact sports such as football, basketball, hockey, and others.
• Genetic predisposition. Some people are born with weak ligaments, which increases the risk of tearing the anterior cruciate ligament.
• Overweight. Obesity can increase the stress on the knee joint, increasing the risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Types of anterior cruciate ligament injuries

There are different types of injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament:

• A sprain is the mildest type of injury, in which the ligament is stretched but not completely torn.
• A partial tear, when the ligament is only partially torn.
• A complete rupture, when the ligament is completely torn and requires surgical repair.

You can also receive associated injuries, for example, to the meniscus, collateral ligaments and cartilage of the knee joint. In addition, after the first rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, the risk of repeated injuries increases.

Diagnosis of cruciate ligament rupture

Symptoms of a torn cruciate ligament in the knee:

• acute pain in the knee at the time of injury,
• swelling and severe pain in the knee several hours after the injury,
• feeling of instability or weakness in the knee, especially when walking or running,
• crunching sounds or sensations in the knee when moving,
• limited movement in the knee joint.

To diagnose an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, the doctor:

• examines the patient to check the stability of the knee: performs special tests to check the integrity of the ligament and the level of pain,
• examines the x-ray results to rule out other injuries, such as fractures,
• looks at the MRI results to understand the condition of the ligaments and other structures in the knee,
• uses diagnostic arthroscopy (if needed) to view the internal structures of the knee joint and determine the extent of damage.

Types of cruciate ligament treatment

Depending on the extent of the injury, the doctor chooses treatment for a torn anterior cruciate ligament:

• Conservative treatment: physical therapy, exercises to strengthen the knee muscles, orthoses, medications to relieve inflammation and pain.
• Surgery: if conservative treatment fails or is not applicable, your doctor may perform cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Stages of preparation for surgery at the N1 Clinic in Dnipro

It all starts with a consultation with an orthopedic doctor, who will examine and diagnose the injury and the need for surgery.

The doctor will look at X-rays results and an MRI scan to determine the extent of the ligament damage. If surgery is necessary, the doctor will tell you about its features, subsequent rehabilitation and agree with you on the date of the operation.

Before the operation, you will need to undergo a preoperative set of tests at our clinic. A consultation with an anesthesiologist is also required.

A process of the surgery performed for a torn anterior cruciate ligament

At N1 Clinic, operations for cruciate ligament rupture are performed by an orthopedic surgeon using the arthroscopic method.

If the ligament can be repaired, orthopedic doctors perform cruciate ligament suturing by refixing the damaged structures. In this case, the surgeon makes a small incision in the knee and uses special instruments to reattach the damaged structures to return them to normal function.

Through a small incision, the surgeon removes the damaged ligament and creates a new one using tissue from the patient or donor. The new ligament is secured in place using bone pins or other anchors

The duration of such operations is about 1 hour.

After the surgery, a patient must undergo a rehabilitation period that includes physical therapy, exercises to strengthen the knee muscles and the use of orthoses.

Recovery and rehabilitation

The effect of anesthesia will end in 2-3 hours, and the first stage of rehabilitation will immediately begin: lymphatic drainage massage, various physical and functional procedures, exercises on exercise machines.

A patient leaves the hospital within 1-2 days, depending on the patient’s condition and doctor’s orders.

Upon the leave, the doctor will tell you about the necessary course of rehabilitation in the clinic and select exercises to perform at home to speed up recovery.

Cost of knee surgery at N1 Clinic in Dnipro

You can discuss the cost of the operation at N1 Clinic with your doctor after a full examination and diagnosis. It all depends on the extent of the damage.

Advantages of treatment at N1 Clinic

The advantages of performing surgery for anterior cruciate ligament rupture at N1 Clinic are:

• orthopedic doctors with more than 20 years of experience in performing arthroscopic surgeries,
• international treatment protocols,
• modern equipment
• early stage of rehabilitation after surgery,
• individual choice of patient treatment plan.

Sign up for a consultation with an orthopedic doctor at N1 Clinic to get qualified help. Our doctors select treatment individually and do not prescribe surgeries that are not necessary.