The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a knee ligament that connects the upper and lower leg and helps to stabilize the knee. Torn ACL injuries are common, especially among athletes such as Tiger Woods, but you can tear your ACL at home by tripping and falling the wrong way. A torn ACL often requires surgery to reconstruct or replace. Although the surgery itself is not very extensive, the recovery period after ACL replacement surgery can be quite difficult. It is important to know what to expect during recovery, and how you should care for your knee after the surgery.
ACL Replacement Surgery
ACL replacement surgery sometimes involves using a graft to replace the damaged ligament. This graft is often taken from another part of your body, such as your patellar tendon or one of your hamstring tendons. A less invasive procedure involves using allograft tissue from a donor. ACL replacement surgery is often done as arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgery is done by inserting surgical instruments through small incisions in the knee. The surgeon will drill two small holes in the upper and lower leg bones; the graft will then be anchored between these holes. The ACL replacement graft is secured with the use of screws or staples, and the incisions will be closed with stitches or surgical tape. Arthroscopic ACL replacement surgery is done on an outpatient basis. After spending a few hours in the recovery room, you will be allowed to return home. However, you will need someone to drive you home, as your surgeon will probably ask you not to drive for the first week of your recovery.
Incision Care and Pain Management
Before you leave the hospital, your surgeon or nurse will provide you with instructions on pain management and incision care. You will be prescribed a few different medications to take during your recovery, such as an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic and a pain medication. To care for your surgery incision, you will need to keep it clean, and dry for at least one week. A nurse will explain the proper way to change your dressings, if necessary. Be sure to keep the knee elevated whenever possible, and ice it for a 20 minute period at least three times a day.
Rehabilitation
Immediately after your ACL replacement surgery, you will need to use crutches, and most surgeons will require you to use crutches for at least one or two weeks. It's likely that you will also have to wear a full-leg brace for several weeks. Most surgeons prefer that you not bend the knee for a specific period of time after the surgery, and the brace will prevent you from doing that. Depending on the nature of your job, you may be able to return to work within a week to ten days after the surgery. If your job is physical and requires you to spend a majority of time standing or walking, you will likely need a longer recovery period. Your surgeon will specify when to start physical therapy. Your physical therapist will then walk you through a series of exercises to restore strength and range of motion to your knee. It is essential to follow the therapist's orders, and to be patient with your recovery. While some people may have a full recovery within a few moths, other patients may find it takes up to a year for the knee to feel normal again. Expect physical therapy to last at least 12 weeks.
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