Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture - ACL Lesion - ClÃnica do Joelho e Ombro - Prof. Gutierres

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear

Cruciate ligament injuries are common in sports where the knees are more exposed to trauma, especially due to torsional stress, which occurs when an athlete attempts to change direction. However, smaller impacts may also cause tears in ligaments weakened by age factors, disease, immobilisation, steroids or vascular insufficiency.

For this reason, not only does a good proprioceptive and muscle strengthening promote a safer sports practice but it may also, in many cases, eliminate instability symptoms associated with these lesions.

Ligamentoplasty Techniques

Our ligamentoplasty techniques are totally arthroscopic, taking the maximum advantage of mini-invasive surgery: small incisions (which are aesthetically advantageous), less surgical aggression, less pain, a better postoperative recovery and a very small chance of associated complications occurring.

We normally use hamstring tendons so as to spare the patellar tendon and preserve the integrity of the extensor apparatus.

Below there are some examples of how these small incisions will look like.

The double-bundle graft we obtain is then folded and prepared to have a high tensile strength in order to respond to the mechanical requirements of the joint.

The bone tunnels, through which the tendon graft will be inserted, should be as near to the original ligament position as possible, so that its primary function is preserved as much as possible.

Plastia LCA - Tunel Tibial

Plastia LCA - Isqueotibiais

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tear

Posterior cruciate ligament tears are rare. These injuries are often complex, since they might be associated with injuries in other structures, such as the capsule and other posterior or external structures.

In this case, surgery is only recommended when rehabilitation programs fail to make the symptoms subside.

Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Tears

LCL tears usually result from trauma in the lateral or medial area of the knee joint or in the tibia, which forces the varus-valgus angulation beyond the limit of the collateral ligament fibers resistance.

These injuries can be treated either conservatively or surgically, depending on the degree of the tear and associated lesions.

Currently there are orthoses that help stabilise the knee allowing, at the same time, for flexion-extension movements, that maintain the activity of the quadriceps.