ACL Surgery in Houston and Surrounding Areas

Whenever you walk, run, climb stairs or even stand up, your knees must support your body’s weight while also flexing as needed to distribute that weight as evenly as possible. When an impact or misjudged motion strains the knee’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the injured knee may become unusable or cause extreme discomfort.

If you’ve severely damaged this important ligament, you may need to arrange for local ACL surgery in Houston. Here’s an overview of the subject from your surgeons at NW Surgery.

What Are the Common Causes of a Torn ACL

Bones connect to other bones through tough bands of connective tissue called ligaments. The ACL is one of four ligaments that give the knee joint its strength and flexibility, along with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). A variety of incidents can cause the ACL to stretch and tear, including the following examples.

  • Man suffers from ACL injury after slip and fall accident Acute impact – A direct lateral impact to the knee, as might occur in a full-contact sport, can force the knee’s ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.
  • Falls – An unfortunate or unprepared landing on your feet from a great height can overstress the ACL.
  • Changes in velocity – The stress of slowing down after running full speed can overextend and tear knee ligaments.
  • Torsion – A sudden twisting of the body or change in direction while the foot remains planted can pull on the ACL until it tears.

Symptoms of a torn ACL include stiffness, swelling, instability, and pain in the knee that may make weight-bearing impossible. You might also hear a popping noise when the ligament gives way.

This kind of sprain can vary in severity. A Grade 1 or Grade 2 ACL sprain may require little more than first aid and rest. By contrast, a Grade 3 sprain may involve an ACL totally torn away from the bone. These most serious types of ACL sprains usually require surgery.

What Is Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Orthopedic doctor is helping a patient to put some fastener to patients leg after having ACL surgery
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a surgical technique for restoring the support of the knee once received from your damaged ACL. Before you undergo ACL surgery in Houston, you’ll need physical therapy to reduce the pain, stiffness, and swelling as much as possible. This preparation helps to ensure a better outcome.

A torn ACL surgery often involves arthroscopic techniques. A special camera-equipped tube and tiny surgical instruments allow the surgeon to work through a few small incisions instead of one large one. You’ll receive general anesthesia for the surgery.

The surgeon will start by removing the damaged ACL completely with a tool that shaves it away from the bone. After making narrow tunnels in your thigh and shin bones, the surgeon will use these tunnels to guide the installation of a graft made either from your own connective tissue or a donor’s connective tissue. Metal screws or other fasteners will secure the graft to the proper attachment sites on your leg bones. Over time, the tissue will grow and merge with your own tissues until your knee has fully healed.

Patient lying on the hospital bed with a supporter on her knee after ACL surgery Although you can go home on the same day of the operation, you’ll need to adhere to your surgeon’s guidelines to promote complete healing and rehabilitation of your knee. Your doctor will advise you not to put any weight on the knee; instead, you’ll use crutches as the tissues heal. The replacement ligament in your knee may also require additional support from a brace.

Expect to go through physical therapy again after your ACL surgery, either on your own or under the supervision of a trained therapist. Prescribed exercises can also help you regain your knee strength and range of motion.

How NW Surgery Can Help

NW Surgery can provide you with the top-quality ACL reconstruction you need and deserve. Since our founding in 1999, we’ve assembled the finest team of orthopedic specialists Houston has to offer. In addition to ACL surgery, we also perform hand, wrist, foot, ankle, and spinal surgery as well as pain management services.

A-Plus Care for Your ACL Injury

Don’t let an ACL injury force you to limp your way through life when you can receive state-of-the-art ACL surgery in Houston. The experienced surgeons here at NW Surgery can help you enjoy full use of your injured knee. Contact us for assistance scheduling a consultation with one of our skilled ACL specialists.