If you or a loved one has suffered an ACL injury, it's likely you're about to hear a great deal of medical jargon from doctors who treat this knee injury. Here are some of the more common terms that you may hear after an ACL injury so you can better understand this type of medical incident.
- Ligament
You may hear the doctor refer to your ACL as a ligament, or he may just refer to your ACL as a ligament without mentioning the term ACL. A ligament is a form of tissue that connects two bones together and holds a joint together. Your ACL is a ligament that connects your tibia and fibula bones to one another keeping them from excessively moving, and it provides stability to your entire knee.
- Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery does not require a surgeon to make large incisions during operation. He or she simply makes small incisions and uses tiny instruments and cameras to perform the surgery. This form of surgery is almost always preferred because it can reduce the risk of infections, as opposed to open surgery that also leaves scarring.
- Reconstruction
ACL reconstruction surgery is usually an arthroscopic surgery used to rebuild your ACL. A surgeon will take a tissue graft (tissue from another part of your body) from your tendon and use that to begin the rebuilding process. After creating small holes on your lower and upper leg bones, the surgeon will attach the tissue graft to these small holes and secure them. After securing the new tissue, the surgeon will close up the knee, and the recovery process begins.
- Osteoarthritis
You may hear from your doctor about the chance of developing osteoarthritis after an ACL injury. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects millions of people around the world, according to the Mayo Clinic. Simply put, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down due to use over time. Because you suffered an ACL injury, you may be more likely to develop osteoarthritis due to the significant trauma to your knee.
- Isometric Exercises
You may hear the doctor talk to you about using isometric exercises to help you recover from less serious ACL injuries. Isometric exercises are a type of strength training that works to strengthen your muscles without the joint or muscle changing. An example of an isometric exercise is a heel prop, in which you will sit or lie back and bring your injured knee up, fully extending it, and holding that position for five to ten seconds at a time, focusing on trying to stretch the muscles in your injured knee.
