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

Treatment:

Initial treatment of an ACL injury includes splinting, ice to the area, elevation of the joint (above the level of the heart), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and limited physical activity until the swelling is down, motion is normal, and the pain is gone. Physical therapy may be recommended to help regain joint and leg strength. If the injury is acute or you have a high activity level, surgery may be necessary; this may be either knee arthroscopy or "open" surgical reconstruction. Age has an effect on treatment; younger patients are more likely to have problems without surgery.

Expectations (prognosis):

When tissue is damaged, the body begins a healing process almost immediately by moving various cells and elements to the area necessary to rebuild, or replace the injured tissue. Certain types of body tissues including ligaments and cartilage have little blood supply (vascularization) and they take longer to heal than comparable injuries to other tissues that are more highly vascularized (such as skin). This means that the ACL injury could take from weeks, months, or years to completely heal.

Complications:

• weakness of the joint, making it more susceptible to reinjury
• chronic pain

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of ACL injury occur.

Call your health care provider if you are being treated for ACL injury and you notice increased instability in your knee, if pain or swelling return after they initially subsided, or if your injury does not appear to be resolving with time.

Also call if you reinjure your knee.