Can you live with a partially torn ACL?

Partial ACL Tears

The prognosis (outlook) for a partially torn ACL is often good, with the recovery and rehabilitation period usually lasting at least 3 months. However, some patients with partial ACL tears may still have instability symptoms.

Can a partially torn ACL heal on its own?

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.

What happens if you partially tear your ACL?

Partial ACL Tears

A partial injury means that only one of the two bundles was torn. Therefore, the second bundle is intact. Many patients who sustain a partial ACL tear will be able to return to their prior level of activity without complaints of buckling, instability or giving way.

Does a partial ACL tear need surgery?

ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While complete ACL tears almost always require surgery, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods. ACL tears are graded by severity and are called sprains (a sprain is a stretch or tear in a ligament).

Is a partial ACL tear serious?

The prognosis (outlook) for a partially torn ACL is often good, with the recovery and rehabilitation period usually lasting at least 3 months. However, some patients with partial ACL tears may still have instability symptoms.

ACL tear treatment - Is it possible to avoid surgery and further knee damage?

Can you walk on a slightly 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.

Is partial ACL tear better than full?

The long term outcomes do seem to be slightly better for partial ACL tears as people with partial ACL tears are less likely to have injury to other knee structures, less likely to need surgery, and are more likely to return to the same activities as before the injury than people with a complete ACL tear.

What does a partial ACL tear 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.

What is the best treatment for partial ACL tear?

The first line of treatment for ACL injury involves resting, icing, and elevating the leg. An anti-inflammatory medication can also decrease pain and swelling, Dr. Rodeo says. In some cases when people do not require a return to pivoting sports, physical therapy can strengthen the joint without surgery, he explains.

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 you bend knee with partial ACL tear?

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 rare is a partial ACL tear?

Partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are common and represent 10–27% of the total. The main reasons for attending to cases of non-torn bundles are biomechanical, vascular and proprioceptive. Continued presence of the bundle also serves as protection during the healing process.

Can you play sports with a partially torn ACL?

It is possible to function with a torn ACL, but it's extremely difficult to return to high-level sports without proper treatment. ACL reconstruction is the recommended and most reliable treatment for those who want to get back to sports activities that involve cutting and pivoting, said Shybut.

What are the long term effects of a partial ACL tear without surgery?

Long-term knee instability

If you wait too long to treat a torn ACL, you're at risk of developing chronic knee pain and knee instability. Waiting to get treatment may mean that surgery is your only option. Or you may need to cope with ongoing instability by modifying your activities and giving up intensive sports.

How painful is a partially torn ACL?

Many patients noted that they remember hearing or feeling a “pop” in their knee at the time of the injury. Typically the knee will swell, feel unstable, and be too painful to bear weight. For some, a mild ACL injury may be treated with rest and physical therapy.

How long does a Grade 1 ACL tear take to heal?

In general, Grade 1 ACL tears are treated with methods such as bracing, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain, and RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). When these precautions are taken, general healing time is about 2-4 weeks.

What exercises can you do with a partially torn ACL?

Quad sets, straight-leg raises, and heel slides are common exercises used after an ACL injury. As symptoms decrease and you are able to bear weight, side-lying leg lifts, glute sets, bridges, mini-squats, heel raises, and prone hamstring curls might be added.

Can a partially torn ACL grow back?

Full vs.

While a very few patients may restore some of their lost function without surgery, the knee will remain unstable, and that means the chances of reinjuring it are very high. Even partial ACL tears may require surgery if the injury involves other ligaments, tendons, or your kneecap.

Will walking on a torn ACL make it worse?

Your knee is less stable with a torn ACL, and it will affect your gait as well as how your knee moves and bears the weight of your body. Walking on a torn ACL can cause additional damage to your knee, such as tears to the cartilage of the knee and worsening the ACL tear.

How long can I delay ACL surgery?

A delay of more than six months increases the risk of further damage and degeneration of the involved knee.

How urgent is ACL surgery?

How soon can I have surgery for a torn ACL? Often the best time to have reconstructive surgery is immediately after the injury. This is before muscle wasting and knee stiffness has occurred. This will result in the fastest recovery.

What happens if you don't repair ACL?

If nothing is done, the ACL injury may turn into chronic ACL deficiency. Your knee may become more and more unstable and may give out more often. The abnormal sliding within the knee also can hurt cartilage. It can trap and damage the menisci in the knee and can also lead to early osteoarthritis.

Should you get ACL surgery immediately?

For a complete tear of the ACL, reconstruction surgery is generally scheduled for between three and six weeks after the injury occurs. This allows inflammation in the area to subside. If surgery is performed too early, patients may develop a profound scarring response called arthrofibrosis.