ACL Injury

Silicon Valley Orthopaedics

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons located in Fremont, CA, Los Gatos, CA & Menlo Park, CA

Located in your knee, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the thigh bone and shin bone, providing joint mobility and stability. ACL injuries are common, especially in athletes who play high-impact sports. At Silicon Valley Orthopaedics in Fremont, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, and Foster City, California, Nic Gay, MD, Masi Reynolds, MD, and George Thabit III, MD, offer many options for an ACL injury, including nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Call the office nearest you or schedule a consultation online today.

ACL Injury Q & A

What is the ACL?

Ligaments connect bone to bone and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs diagonally through the center of your knee connecting your thigh bone to your shin bone. It’s one of the most important ligaments in your knee.

This ligament prevents your shin bone from sliding in front of your thigh bone and stabilizes the joint.

You may injure your ACL if you change directions too rapidly, stop suddenly, or land poorly after a jump. Though ACL injuries are common in athletes, anyone can develop an ACL tear. Injuries to a ligament are known as a sprain.

What are the symptoms of an ACL injury?

When you injure your ACL, you may hear or feel a pop and then your knee may give out. Other symptoms include:

Knee pain that prevents further activity
Rapid swelling around the knee
Decrease in knee range of motion
Tenderness along the joint
Knee instability during weight-bearing activities

If you ignore your pain and swelling, these symptoms may resolve. However, continuing to use your injured knee may worsen your condition and cause other injuries.

The team at Silicon Valley Orthopaedics recommends scheduling a consultation right away if you have symptoms that suggest an ACL injury.

What happens during an ACL evaluation?

The Silicon Valley Orthopaedics team reviews your symptoms and the details of your ACL injury. Then, they examine your knee.

The experts at Silicon Valley Orthopaedics can diagnose an ACL injury after a physical exam but may request an onsite X-ray to rule out other injuries to explain your symptoms.

How is an ACL injury treated?

Treatment for an ACL injury depends on many factors, including the severity of your sprain and symptoms as well as your usual lifestyle. The Silicon Valley Orthopaedics team customizes your ACL injury treatment plan to best meet your needs.

Nonsurgical care may support recovery from an ACL injury. However, most people with an ACL injury benefit from surgery to repair the tear. Surgery for an ACL injury requires reconstruction of the ligament using a tissue graft.

When performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, the skilled orthopaedic surgeons at Silicon Valley Orthopaedics use minimally invasive tools and techniques to minimize post-surgical pain and recovery time.

Don’t ignore your knee pain. To see if you have an ACL injury, schedule an appointment with the experts at Silicon Valley Orthopaedics by calling the office or booking online today.

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