Claims for anterior cruciate ligament injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located in the anterior or front of the knee and serves to maintain stability. It runs from the femur and attaches to the top of the tibia, thus preventing the tibia from moving forward on the femur.
Injuries and symptoms
Injury to the ACL is the most common form of knee ligament injury, often occurring in sporting situations where the foot is planted. The injury can be in the form of a tear or rupture and is a common injury in football.
A tear or rupture to the ACL will be painful. Some people experience a click or pop and the affected knee will become noticeably swollen.
Diagnosis of a anterior cruciate ligament injury
There are several tests to check the stability of the knee where the movement of the knee is assessed and any abnormality in movement is the key symptom to denote a tear. Diagnosis can be confirmed by an MRI scan.
Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament damage
As with all ligament injuries a torn or ruptured ACL will bleed internally and it is therefore vital to place ice on the affected knee in the 24 hours subsequent to the injury to reduce swelling. The knee will often be unstable and must be rested for 24-48 hours after the injury occurs.
The knee should be elevated above heart level if at all possible. Compression of the affected knee in the form of an elasticated bandage will also aid recovery.
Further treatment will be necessary and in many cases will involve surgery. It is possible to treat an ACL injury without surgery if the knee is stable, there is no damage to knee ligament and the injured person has no wish to participate in activities that could cause a further rupture. Such a course of treatment will include physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the knee and may be more suitable for older people.
If the person suffering an ACL injury wishes to return to sport, or the knee is unstable then the preferred form of treatment will be surgery. Surgery will involve transferring tendon tissue from the arm or hamstring to reconstruct the knee joint. There will follow a period of rest for around a week and then 3 months of physiotherapy before a further three months of gym work and running to complete rehabilitation.
Prognosis for anterior cruciate ligament demage
If there are no complications to the surgery, a return to sporting activity is certainly possible even with serious injuries to the ACL. However, the earliest return will be after around six months.
Making a sports injury claim
For free, expert advice on making a sports injury claim, click here or call us free on 0800 0382 382. We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
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