ACL injuries are very common in sports, although you can also get the injury from a trauma or car accident. The team at Prairie Garden Medical, a multi speciality medical practice Oklahoma City, is experienced in performing ACL reconstruction on patients who require surgical repair. However, not all ACL tears need surgery to heal. ACL tear treatment depends on your activity level, but it might need surgical repair. Here is a look at when an ACL tear requires surgery.

What Exactly Is an ACL Tear?

An ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament that goes from the back of your leg to the front through your knee. It keeps the tibia bone from slipping in the anterior of your thigh bone and maintains your knee in position when rotating your leg and when jumping or running. However, an ACL tear can occur due to wear and tear. It happens when you overstretch the ligament, leading to a partial or complete tear. A ligament injury is known as a sprain.

What Are the Common Symptoms of An ACL Tear?

When you get an ACL tear, you might hear a popping sound when it happens. The knee will then swell and become painful. You might also experience knee tenderness, pain when walking, and a reduced motion range. If you ignore these symptoms, the swelling and pain might resolve, but the knee will stay unstable. If you feel like you have an ACL tear, you should get rest, elevate your leg and book an appointment with a medical provider for evaluation.

When Does Your ACL Tear Require Surgery?

Several times, your surgeon might recommend surgery for your ACL tear. These include;

• People With Active Lifestyles and Physically Demanding Jobs

Regardless of your age, if you engage in competitive sports and want to continue playing at the same level, you will need to undergo ACL surgery if you have a significant tear. You will need a stable and strong knee to jump, pivot, and run frequently. Similarly, you will require strong knee support if your job is physically demanding, such as lifting heavy objects. Warehouse workers, roofers, loggers, carpenters, and others in manual jobs will benefit from ACL surgery.

• Knee Instability

Another situation where the surgeon might recommend ACL surgery is when your tear causes significant knee instability. An unstable knee can cause you to fall. If it does not cause falls, it might cause extra damage to your knee, needing more repair work in the future than undertaking surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will do several tests to determine if you have knee instability due to an ACL tear.

• Other Meniscus and Ligament Damage

An ACL tear often comes with other collateral damage to your meniscus and knee ligaments. The meniscus is the cushioning cartilage between the bones and offers a protective capsule around your knee joint. While meniscus tears can be repaired, healing is better when corrected during an ACL reconstruction surgery.

An ACL surgery is essential in regaining knee stability, particularly if you live an active lifestyle. The team at Prairie Garden Medical performs an ACL tear surgery using minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to collect the injury while reducing recovery time. They also offer customized physical therapy to support your healing process. Call or schedule an appointment online at Prairie Garden Medical today if you have knee or other musculoskeletal pain.