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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury

Alternative names:

ACL injury; cruciate ligament injury - anterior; injury - ACL; injury - anterior cruciate ligament; injury - knee - ACL; knee injury - anterior cruciate ligament

Definition:

An injury to the knee described as a partial or complete tear, dislocation, or stretch of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) from the bone attachments that form the knee, or anywhere else along the length of the ligament.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a powerful ligament extending from the top-front surface of the tibia to the bottom-rear surface of the femur. The ligament prevents the knee joint from anterior instability, that is, instability in the front of the joint.

A sudden deceleration (coming to a quick stop), combined with a direction change while running, pivoting, landing from a jump, or overextending the knee joint in either direction can cause injury to the ACL. This injury occurs in 4 out of 1,000 people.


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