Knee Reconstruction
The three main ligaments that are torn in the knee are the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), and the MCL (medial collateral ligament)
Ways to test yourself for ligament tears are, note if there is any swelling. Typically there is swelling in the area where a ligament has been torn. Second does it hurt? Obviously there will be pain if you tore a ligament. Next, apply a small amount of pressure to the area, and if you knee buckles, or is unstable. You could have torn a major ligament in your knee. The doctor will do an MRI to see if you tore something for sure.
If you did tear a ligament your doctor will advise you to wear a knee brace, and use crutches. These precautions are necessary to make sure the ligament isn't torn any more.
The surgery, or resconstructionof the knee ligaments, is a grafting of a tendon or ligament from another part of the body to the torn ligament. Often times doctors use the patellar ligament, or a tendon off of the hamstring. Both of these are affective and will work.
Slowly start putting pressure on the knee, and working the joint to regain knee strength. Once the person gets off crutches they can walk and start doing excercises to strenghten the new ligaments.
Ways to test yourself for ligament tears are, note if there is any swelling. Typically there is swelling in the area where a ligament has been torn. Second does it hurt? Obviously there will be pain if you tore a ligament. Next, apply a small amount of pressure to the area, and if you knee buckles, or is unstable. You could have torn a major ligament in your knee. The doctor will do an MRI to see if you tore something for sure.
If you did tear a ligament your doctor will advise you to wear a knee brace, and use crutches. These precautions are necessary to make sure the ligament isn't torn any more.
The surgery, or resconstructionof the knee ligaments, is a grafting of a tendon or ligament from another part of the body to the torn ligament. Often times doctors use the patellar ligament, or a tendon off of the hamstring. Both of these are affective and will work.
Slowly start putting pressure on the knee, and working the joint to regain knee strength. Once the person gets off crutches they can walk and start doing excercises to strenghten the new ligaments.