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Do you need to have your ACL surgically reconstructed?
Not everyone needs to have
his or her ACL reconstructed with surgery. The people who benefit the
most from this type of surgery lead an active lifestyle and wish to continue
with their sporting activities. Most patients who want to return to competitive
cutting, jumping, and pivoting athletics are currently advised to have
their ACL reconstructed. This is because an intact ACL (or its replacement)
protects the rest of the knee from injuries during sports that involve
jumping, kicking, or cutting. In contrast, the knee is not subjected to
the same type of stresses in recreational athletics like swimming, bicycling,
hiking, or jogging. Many people who tear their ACL can return to these
types of activities without noticing any significant differences in the
way their knee feels or functions. The younger you are at the time of
your injury, the more you should consider having your ligament reconstructed.
This is because there is some evidence that people without an intact ACL
develop more arthritis within their knees over time due to abnormal wear
and tear on the cartilage.
Many people have a hard time
deciding whether or not to have surgery. This is very normal. The best
way to resolve this issue is to give careful consideration both to the
types of activities that you want to do regularly and to how much you
are willing to limit yourself if your knee doesn't feel quite right. With
the improvement in both ACL surgery over the last 15 years and its results,
the decision to have ACL surgery has increasingly come to rest with the
patient. It is all about you and your activity level. Your surgeon will
be able to help you make your final decision. Sometimes this decision
is influenced by whether or not you have injured other parts of your knee,
in which case you may be more strongly advised to have your ACL reconstructed.
ACL reconstruction is an elective
procedure, which means that it can be scheduled at a convenient time for
the patient. This allows patients to organize their schedule for returning
to work, athletics, or academic obligations, and for completing all of
their rehabilitation requirements.
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