What are 3 types of ACL repair?

Which ACL reconstruction method is best?

The patellar tendon graft (PTG) has always been the gold standard for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Yet, most orthopedic surgeons prefer hamstring grafts for younger athletes and cadaver grafts for older patients.

What are the 4 types of ACL reconstruction options?

What are the 3 different graft options for an ACL repair?

In general, there are three main graft options: a patellar tendon autograft, a hamstring autograft, and an allograft. An autograft comes from the patient's own body, whereas an allograft comes from a cadaver donor.

What are the different ways to repair an ACL?

There are two ways that surgeons can reconstruct the ACL using tissue: from either the athlete's own knee, which is called an autograft, or using tissue from a donor, which is called an allograft.

A RCT Comparing Patellar Tendon, Hamstring Tendon,

What is the fastest ACL recovery?

Although some exceptional athletes can return to sports in six months, a more realistic scenario after an ACL tear is a recovery time of at least eight to nine months.

What is the most common treatment for a torn ACL?

When is ACL graft fully healed?

While the 6 month time frame is typically the earliest patients are allowed to return to contact sports, graft healing and recovery can take up to 12 months or more.

When is the ACL graft the weakest?

The graft complex is actually at its weakest at around the 6 week post operative mark. Kinematic research has shown that open chain exercises cause significantly more anterior tibial displacement and hence more strain on the graft than closed chain exercises.

How strong is ACL graft right after surgery?

Since it has four tendon strands, the graft is very strong, up to two or three times the native ACL. Hamstring grafts have been associated with better extension, lower incidence of post-surgical arthritis and better extension strength.

What grade of ACL tear needs surgery?

Surgical treatment is recommended for individuals with a grade 3 or complete ACL tear. Surgical options may vary based on the type of ACL injury, whether the patient has open or closed growth plates, and the type.

How many ACL tears require surgery?

Partial, or grade 2, ACL tears are actually the least common of the three types of ACL tears. A grade 3 ACL sprain is a complete tear. A complete ACL tear is extremely damaging to the knee and almost always requires surgery, plus a long recovery period.

What is the most common graft used for ACL?

Hamstring tendon grafts are one of the most commonly used grafts for ACL reconstruction. The semitendinosus tendon with or without gracilis tendon is harvested, from ipsilateral leg. They are used as quadruple stranded grafts and are comparable to native ACL.

What hurts the most after ACL reconstruction?

Kneecap pain (patellofemoral pain) is the scourge of ACL rehabilitation. Sometimes the kneecap is damaged with the original injury but more often than not, the kneecap pain is a secondary event because of tightness of the tissues on the outer half of the knee and weakness of the quadriceps which develops after surgery.

What is the failure rate of ACL surgery?

Can ACL surgery fail? ACL surgery can fail, even in the best of circumstances. It is generally felt that a well-done ACL reconstruction has about a 5% chance of failure due to trauma. The most common cause of an ACL graft failure is a technical error with malposition of the original ACL reconstruction tunnels.

When is the ACL graft the strongest?

Early Graft Healing Phase (0 - 4 Weeks After Surgery)

Therefore, right after surgery, the graft is typically stronger than the original ACL.

What not to do after ACL surgery?

Don't work your quadriceps early on because this can stretch the ACL graft. Stationery bike riding or lightweight leg presses are recommended during the first three months after surgery. These exercises strengthen the quadriceps while using the hamstrings to protect the ACL graft. Don't swim or run for five months.

How long do ACL grafts last?

Rebuilt to last

Not only is the procedure effective, but repaired tendons perform like new. Reconstruction patients even 20 years later revealed excellent performance, with over 85% still active.

Will I ever be the same after ACL surgery?

Patients can expect a 70% return-to-sport within seven years after ACL Reconstruction. A January 2022 study (27) in The American Journal of Sports Medicine discussed long-term patient-reported rates of return to sport and revision risk after ACL reconstruction.

How long are you in a knee brace after ACL surgery?

Continue to use your functional knee brace during athletic activity for at least 12 months after surgery. You may discontinue the brace under instruction from your surgeon.

Can you retear your ACL right after surgery?

Which begs the question, can you tear your ACL again after surgery? Unfortunately, the answer is yes because there is a chance that complications can arise. In fact, you can re-tear the new ligament.

How fragile is ACL graft?

The graft is much weaker than the native ACL and is at risk during activities which stress the ACL. During this critical time, the graft is prone to not only rupture, but to stretching and elongation. Ligamentisation phase with characteristic restructuring of the graft towards the properties of the intact ACL.

What makes an ACL tear worse?

If you continue to use your knee after an ACL injury, you only make the problem worse. You fuel ongoing inflammation, the ligament continues to weaken, and a partial tear is likely to turn into a complete rupture. The ACL ligament takes a long time to heal even when you seek early treatment.

How many months does it take to recover from a torn ACL?

An ACL tear is a very common knee injury. It can happen to athletes who play sports like football, basketball, soccer and volleyball, and to those who work physical jobs. There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Most people recover from an ACL tear within six to nine months.

What should I avoid with a torn ACL?