Believe it or not, there are nearly 100,000 to 200,000 knee ligament tears each year in the United States. The majority of these injuries occur during professional and recreational sports activities. As a result, many athletes and fitness enthusiasts require surgery to heal their injuries and obtain a full recovery.
If you’ve experienced an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear, you may be wondering if you require a restorative procedure. Well, keep reading the information below to learn if surgery is needed and ways to find a good surgeon.
Is Knee Ligament Surgery Necessary?
Reconstructive surgery is not always urgent and in some cases can be postponed to suit your business and personal schedule. However, sports and other harsh tasks should be eliminated during the time of your injury. On the other hand, continuing certain exercise routines like cycling is a good idea.
However, If there are any meniscus cartilage tears as part of the injury, then you may be recommended to undergo surgery earlier rather than later.
In the vast majority of cases, an ACL knee ligament injury is a complete ligament tear and the potential for healing is very low. Partial tears are rare and in our experience partial tears are often an incorrect diagnosis of a complete tear. Treatment is often individualized. In active individuals, surgery is often recommended to properly stabilize the knee.
What Happens If You Don’t Get Knee Ligament Injury Treatment?
The ACL provides the knee with stabilization, especially with turning, twisting, and shifting directions. Your knee will feel pain after a knee ligament tear, but the initial swelling and pain can improve rapidly.
An ACL deficient knee is the consequence of a tear. Early rehabilitation can restore motion and normal walking. Certain activities may be possible, such as biking, swimming, and cycling. But, a return to cutting or twisting activities with an unstable knee can lead to further injury. In many patients in order to enhance the quality of life and begin sports again, ACL surgery is needed to restore stability to the knee joint.
Keep in mind that a damaged knee with a torn ACL knee ligament may develop arthritis down the line if vigorous sports are pursued. Although that does not mean that arthritis will happen to all individuals who suffer a knee ligament injury. The main purpose of ACL reconstruction is to restore a stable knee that will help prevent further damage with activity.
How to Find the Best Specialist for ACL Surgery
Now that you understand the importance of knee ligament surgery, it’s time to learn how to find the right surgeon. ACL surgery is no simple procedure. Therefore, you want to make sure that you choose a specialist that is skilled and knowledgeable.
Here are some tips to follow:
Check Your Insurance Benefits
If you want your insurance company to help fund your knee ligament surgery, you may to choose a surgeon who’s in-network. However, careful review of the insurance benefits may be acceptable financially for a surgeon who is out-of-network.
Look up Surgeon Credentials and Experience
Before undergoing surgery, you should feel comfortable with the surgeon that you choose. Take some time to do research and make sure that you’re going to a reputable doctor. You should also read reviews and testimonials from prior clients who had a good experience with the doctor.
Getting honest, unbiased insight regarding other people’s experiences is the best way to choose the right surgeon for your knee ligament procedure.
You should also take into consideration the type of establishment that you’ll be going to. For instance, the Florida Spine Care is a BBB accredited business. That lets you know that we are a trustworthy, reliable medical facility.
Important educational credentials may include training at recognized institutions for orthopedic residency (five years of orthopedic training). Additional training after residency, called a fellowship, can be valuable. A Sports Medicine Orthopedic Fellowship is considered a good standard for an ACL surgeon. Experience after training can provide valuable insights for the surgeon. Research experience provides insight into the surgeon’s ongoing pursuit of improved results.
Adolescent ACL Patients
One of our particular interests is providing care of adolescent athletes. This is a unique group of patients. Relegating them to a “pediatric” category because they are under eighteen years of age may fail to recognize their unique status as they transition to adulthood. Many biologic components of their knee may be fully mature, but recognizing their athletic needs balanced with parental input is vital to their care. In addition, providing adequate postoperative pain control with relying of opioids is vital. This has been a significant part of our research and innovation. Our new anesthetic block for ACL surgery and allowed many patients to recover without any opioids. You can find additional information regarding recovery without opioids here. You and the surgeon can do a consultation to get more info about what to expect.
During your “interview”, ask the surgeon about some of the things that you’re concerned about. Doing so will help to give you more confidence moving forward.
Let Us Correct Your Knee Ligament Injury
If you’ve experienced a knee ligament tear, chances are you need surgery. Our Orthopedic Sports Medicine surgeon has premier training and voluminous experience with professional and recreational athletes. Our team of experienced health professionals have the expertise required to help you heal and recover. Our facility provides treatment for ACL injuries and more.
Plus, our clinic has multiple locations for your convenience. If you’re ready to get on the road to recovery, call us at 1-888-492-3392 or contact us online.
We look forward to helping you soon.
