What is ACL Surgery?

Children's Hospital Colorado

3 Jul 201702:48

Summary

TLDRThe ACL, a crucial ligament in the knee joint, is vital for stability during sports. Injuries can lead to instability and may require surgery, especially for young athletes. Children's Hospital Colorado specializes in ACL repair, using advanced techniques to protect growth plates while re-stabilizing the knee. Post-surgery rehab is essential for safe return to sports.

Takeaways

🦴 The ACL is one of two crucial ligaments in the knee, alongside the PCL, providing stability.
🏃‍♂️ The ACL is vital for sports activities that involve changing direction quickly.
🤕 An injury to the ACL can result in the tibia moving too freely, destabilizing the knee.
👩‍⚕️ Experts at the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado can assess ACL injuries through physical exams and imaging.
🔍 Imaging techniques like X-ray and MRI are used to determine the extent of ACL damage.
🏥 Children's Hospital Colorado specializes in ACL repair surgery that considers the growth plates in young patients.
🔨 During surgery, a new ACL is often created from tissue near the quadriceps and kneecap.
🛠️ The new ACL is secured in place with tunnels drilled carefully to avoid growth plates.
💪 Post-surgery rehabilitation is essential to safely return to sports and reduce the risk of re-injury.
🌐 More information about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado can be found on their website.

Q & A

What is the function of the ACL in the knee joint?
-The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, helps stabilize the knee by connecting the femur and tibia, and it plays a crucial role in activities that require changing direction.
What is the PCL and its relationship with the ACL?
-The PCL, or Posterior Cruciate Ligament, works together with the ACL to stabilize the knee joint. The ACL travels from the back to the front, while the PCL runs from the front to the back.
What happens if the ACL is sprained or torn?
-If the ACL is sprained or torn, the tibia can move forward freely, leading to a less stable knee.
How do medical professionals confirm the degree of an ACL injury?
-Medical professionals at the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado perform a physical exam and use imaging techniques like X-ray and MRI to confirm the degree of ACL injury.
Why is ACL repair particularly important for children and young athletes?
-ACL repair is important for children and young athletes because it protects the growth plates around the knee, which determine the future length and shape of the bone.
What surgical techniques does Children's Hospital Colorado specialize in for ACL repair?
-Children's Hospital Colorado specializes in surgical techniques that repair the ACL while protecting the growth plates around the knee.
What is the source of the new ACL during surgery?
-The new ACL can be created from various tissues around the knee, with a preference for tissue connecting the quadriceps and kneecap.
How are tunnels drilled in the bone during ACL surgery to avoid growth plates?
-Tunnels are carefully drilled in the bone during ACL surgery to avoid the growth plates, ensuring the protection of these critical areas for bone development.
What is the purpose of placing the new ACL in tunnels and anchoring it within the knee?
-The new ACL is placed in tunnels and anchored within the knee to secure the tibia and re-stabilize the knee joint.
Why is post-surgery rehab important after an ACL repair?
-Post-surgery rehab is important to safely return to sports and reduce the chances of a retear by strengthening the knee and improving its stability.
Where can one find more information about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado?
-More information about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado can be found on their website.

Outlines

00:00

🦿 Understanding the ACL

The paragraph explains the function and structure of the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), which is one of the two key ligaments in the knee joint, alongside the PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament). It details the ACL's role in stabilizing the knee during activities that require quick changes in direction. The paragraph also discusses the potential for ACL injuries due to excessive stress on the knee, leading to sprains or tears. It emphasizes the importance of the ACL in maintaining knee stability and the consequences of its absence. The Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado is mentioned as a facility that can diagnose and treat ACL injuries using physical exams and imaging techniques like X-ray and MRI.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)

The ACL is one of the four main ligaments in the knee that provides stability to the joint. It runs diagonally in the center of the knee and prevents the tibia (shinbone) from moving out in front of the femur (thighbone). In the video, the ACL's role is highlighted as crucial for sports activities involving quick direction changes, and its injury can lead to knee instability.

💡Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)

The PCL is the other ligament mentioned alongside the ACL in the knee joint, working in conjunction with the ACL to stabilize the knee. It helps prevent the femur from sliding backward over the tibia. The script emphasizes the combined function of both ligaments in maintaining knee stability.

💡Femur

The femur, or thighbone, is the longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body. In the context of the video, the femur's connection to the ACL is critical as the ligament helps hold it in place with the tibia during movements, especially in sports.

💡Tibia

The tibia, or shinbone, is a large shaft-like bone located in the lower leg. It plays a vital role in the video's narrative as the ACL's function is to prevent the tibia from moving too far forward, which would destabilize the knee.

💡Sprain

A sprain refers to an injury to a ligament, which can range from a mild stretch to a complete tear. In the video, a sprain is mentioned as a possible injury to the ACL, which can occur when the knee receives too much stress.

💡MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize internal structures of the body. The script mentions MRI as a diagnostic tool to confirm the degree of ACL injury, highlighting its importance in assessing soft tissue damage.

💡Surgical Techniques

Surgical techniques refer to the methods used by surgeons to perform operations. The video discusses specialized surgical techniques for ACL repair, emphasizing the importance of protecting the growth plates around the knee, especially in children and young athletes.

💡Growth Plates

Growth plates, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones in children and adolescents. The video stresses the importance of protecting these plates during ACL surgery as they are crucial for bone growth and development.

💡Quadriceps

The quadriceps is a group of four muscles at the front of the thigh responsible for knee extension. In the video, the quadriceps is mentioned as a source of tissue for creating a new ACL, demonstrating the use of nearby tissues in reconstructive surgery.

💡Rehab

Rehab, short for rehabilitation, is the process of physical therapy and exercise to help recover and regain strength after an injury or surgery. The script highlights the importance of completing post-surgery rehab to safely return to sports and reduce the risk of re-injury.

💡Children's Hospital Colorado

Children's Hospital Colorado is a medical facility specializing in pediatric care. The video mentions this hospital as a place where experts perform ACL injury assessments and surgeries, emphasizing its role in providing specialized care for young athletes.

Highlights

The ACL is one of two ligaments inside the knee joint.

The ACL and PCL together stabilize the knee.

The ACL connects the femur and tibia and is crucial for changing direction in sports.

The ACL can be sprained or torn if the knee receives too much stress.

Without the ACL, the tibia can move forward freely, reducing knee stability.

Children's Hospital Colorado uses physical exams and imaging like X-ray and MRI to diagnose ACL injuries.

Surgical techniques at Children's Hospital Colorado repair the ACL while protecting growth plates.

Growth plates are important for the future length and shape of the bone, especially in children and young athletes.

Surgery for ACL repair involves creating small holes and an incision for instruments and a camera.

Surgeons examine the knee for additional damage and address it during surgery.

The remaining scar tissue and torn ACL are removed during the procedure.

The new ACL is often created from tissue connecting the quadriceps and kneecap.

Tunnels are drilled in the bone to place the new ACL, avoiding the growth plates.

The new ACL is anchored within the knee to re-stabilize it.

Completing post-surgery rehab is crucial for safely returning to sports and reducing the risk of retear.

The Sports Medicine Center at Children's Hospital Colorado specializes in ACL repair and rehabilitation.

For more information, visit the Sports Medicine Center's website at Children's Hospital Colorado.