Are ACL injuries rare?

ACL tears are a very common knee injury. In the United States there are between 100,000 and 200,000 incidents every year. They're common in athletes, especially those who do start-stop, sudden change in direction sports like football, basketball, soccer and volleyball.

How common is ACL injury?

The ACL is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. The annual reported incidence in the United States alone is approximately 1 in 3500 people.

Why is ACL injury so common?

The ACL tears more often than any other ligament—there may be as many as 200,000 ACL injuries per year in the United States—because of the lack of muscle support for twisting or rotational movements around the joint.

What is the number 1 cause of an ACL tear?

The most common mechanism is that of a sudden pivoting or cutting maneuver during sporting activity, which is commonly seen in football, basketball and soccer. The ligament can also tear due to work injuries or automobile accidents. At the time of the injury, a “pop” or “snap” can sometimes be felt or heard.

Is a torn ACL a big deal?

A torn ACL is very painful and can debilitate a person for several months and perhaps for life, although recovery for some is possible.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

Will you ever be the same after an ACL injury?

In some patients, their knee is not the same. In some patients, ten years later their knee is not the same. Some people do very well with ACL reconstruction surgery, some do very well with second or revision ACL surgery. Some do well with the third ACL reconstruction/revision surgery.

Can you be OK with a torn ACL?

With ACL tears, walking is possible but can be painful. The patient should be able to walk in a straight line but will be unable to make sudden turns or pivot. A knee brace can help stabilize the knee, but with ACL tears, surgery is almost always required.

What age are you most likely to tear your ACL?

Age. ACL tears are most common between the ages of 15 and 45, mostly due to the more active lifestyle and higher participation in sports.

Is ACL tear worse than fracture?

Broken Bones Heal Better Than Ligaments and Tendon

The short answer is because the bone has plenty of blood supply to it compared to ligament/tendon, which has very little and ligament/tendons are more complex to rebuild.

What sport is ACL tear most common in?

Causes. ACL injury typically occurs during athletics where jumping, pivoting and rapid change of direction occurs. Football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and skiing are some sports known to have high ACL injury rates.

Why do girls tear their ACL so much?

The female pelvis is wider, which changes the mechanics of how the thigh bone, tibia, and femur function, says Dr. Gardner. This puts more stress on the soft tissues that support your joints, she explains. This higher stress can lead to either a chronic (overuse) or acute (sudden) injury.

Who is more prone to ACL tears?

Statistics revealed that women are 2 to 10 times more likely to experience an ACL injury than men. Most ACL injuries occur not from the knee making contact with something, but rather as someone lands from a jump or abruptly changes direction while running, especially if it involves twisting or unstable movement.

Why are so many NFL players tearing ACL?

Injuries often occur when a player plants their foot on the ground and attempts to rotate their body in relation to that planted foot, placing their weight on it. These motions create a twisting force across the knee joint that the ACL must absorb.

Will ACL repair itself?

Full ACL tears cannot heal on their own. These tears almost always need to be treated surgically, typically using a minimally invasive approach called arthroscopy.

What does ACL pain feel like?

Many people hear a pop or feel a "popping" sensation in the knee when an ACL injury occurs. Your knee may swell, feel unstable and become too painful to bear weight.

Why are ACL injuries so serious?

Without an ACL, the knee is very unstable (and weak) during lateral movement. This is why some players that depend on quick, rapid side movements can't play with an injured ACL, while others who move mainly forward and backward with less lateral motion have a better chance to wear a brace and continue play.

What is the most serious knee injury?

Kneecap fractures are a common yet serious injury that usually requires immobilization or in some cases surgery to correct. Knee dislocations occur when the knee bones become out of place. This can occur after a major trauma such as a fall, car crash, or high-speed impact.

How long is recovery for ACL tear?

An ACL tear recovery time is generally eight to nine months, though some people may recover in six months.

Can a minor ACL tear heal itself?

The ACL cannot heal on its own because there is no blood supply to this ligament. Surgery is usually required for athletes because the ACL is needed in order to safely perform the sharp movements that are required in sports.

How much does ACL surgery cost?

If you have health insurance, it will cost you $800 to $3,000. This cost includes hospital admission fees, post-surgical visits to the doctor, and other expenses that may come along. However, the rest is covered by the insurance company. People without medical coverage have to part with a lot of money.

Do minor ACL tears heal?

Some mild, partial ACL tears can heal on their own, while other tears require surgery. The only way to know if surgery is the right choice for your ACL injury is to have Dr. Nickson evaluate your injury using advanced diagnostic techniques.

Can I still walk if I tore my ACL?

Can you walk with a torn ACL? The short answer is yes. After the pain and swelling subsides and if there is no other injury to your knee, you may be able to walk in straight lines, go up and down stairs and even potentially jog in a straight line.

Can you ignore torn ACL?

When you experience an ACL tear, you may be tempted to skip the doctor as long as you aren't in too much pain. However, an ACL tear that is left untreated can cause future injuries. The ACL stabilizes the knee. It plays a crucial role in our movements like changing direction, jumping, pivoting, or making sudden stops.

Can I bend my knee with a torn ACL?

If you're able to put pressure on your hurt leg, you may notice that it's harder than normal to walk. Some people find that the knee joint feels looser than it should. Less range of motion. After you damage your ACL, it's very likely that you won't be able to bend and flex your knee like you normally would.

How old was Tom Brady when he tore his ACL?

The season-ending ACL injury that Tom Brady suffered in 2008 was no laughing matter, but the 44-year-old now can joke about it. As many New England Patriots remember, Brady hurt his knee while being tackled by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard during the 2008 season opener.