Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

Knee replacement is a surgery for people suffering with severe knee damage. It can relieve pain and allow you to be more active. Arthritis is the most frequent cause for discomfort and chronic knee pain. Knee arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US. In fact, a recent study showed around 1 in 5 people in the United States have some form of arthritis and two-thirds of the people who have been diagnosed with arthritis are under the age of 65.

At the time of the surgery, a damaged cartilage and bone from the surface of knee joint is removed by the surgeon and is replaced with a man made surface of metal and plastic. The process related to the surgery is given below.

Before and during the surgery

In the weeks before you enter the hospital, the orthopedic surgeon will order tests to make sure that you are healthy enough for the surgery. These include:
• Blood tests to measure the red blood cell count
• ECG to measure heart
• Urine tests to check for infection and pregnancy
• X-rays to check the lungs

Before the knee replacement surgery, the anesthesiologist reviews medical chart and discusses the anesthesia appropriate for your situation. There are two types of anesthesia used during the knee replacement surgery. One, where a patient is put to sleep, is known as general anesthesia, and regional anesthesia, where the patient's leg is numbed, either from below the waist or down from the hip. The type of anesthesia given depends on the patient's situation and the doctor's recommendations.

During your knee replacement surgery, the surgeon removes the worn surfaces at the end of the thigh bone using special instruments. The surgeon prepares the top of the shinbone (tibia) in a similar way as the original one. A new metal tray is planted on top of the remaining bone after removing the worn surface. A hard plastic spacer is held by the tray that becomes the new shock absorber between the smooth metal coverings. The back of the kneecap could also be replaced by the surgeon with a new plastic surface.

Surgery comes to an end after the surgeon closes the incision with stitches or staples, when the implant is in position and all the supporting muscles and ligaments are working well. When the surgery is over you are taken over to the recovery room.

Age, weight, activity level and other factors determine the performance of knee replacements. There are certain risks, and recovery takes time. People who are not able to rehabilitate properly should not have this surgery. An orthopedic surgeon is the right person to guide you.

If you have the ability to sink basketball after basketball from just about any spot on the court, then you have a huge advantage. You don't need to be huge, and you don't need to be super fast because driving to the hole isn't a necessary part of your game.

Understand that if you can drive and shoot, you will really freeze defenders, but just being able to shoot alone is enough. However, you will have to work off of screens and do catch and shoot types of shots.

If you want to develop a good shot, the first thing to do is to not watch the NBA. Most of the players have gotten there through extremely good God-given talent. They are not skilled in the proper techniques. Even someone very good like Kobe Bryant shoots very poorly, and if you don't have his height and skill set, you won't be able to make baskets like he does.

The key to becoming a deadly shooter is to use your legs to power the shot. Most players use their arms. This will introduce irregularities into your shot. Sure, your arms do play a part, but it's not a huge part. You need to understand that you hands and arms are just the launch pad.

The force should come from your knees and legs. Like a spring you coil and then release. The best way to develop this feel (besides actually trying it) is go jump rope. Start normal but progress as jump harder and deeper. This is the real secret to being able to knock down basket after basket.

Joint pain is a feeling of uneasiness, stiffness, achiness, inflammation and soreness around the joints of the body. The pain is usually a sign of mild or serious diseases, conditions and disorders in your joints, which can result from trauma, autoimmune diseases, infections and other unusual diseases. This pain can sometimes be mild or moderate or severe and may last for short or longer period of time.

Joint pain may occur due to a benign circumstance like mild sprain. It can occur as a result of temperate condition, infection or disorder such as ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, a dislocation or a moderate ligament sprain. Also the pain can be as a result of severe circumstances that can actually threaten one's life if not taken care of as fast as possible. Those circumstances may include bone cancer and leukemia. Joint pain sometimes occurs through a variety of traumatic situations like joint separations, ligament sprains, tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder, sport injuries, dislocations, sprained ankle, autoimmune disorder, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis and rheumatic fever.

JOINT INJURY.

This is an injury to any part of the joint in your body causing pain. The injury can affect or hurt the bone, ligament and other tissues in your bone joints. The injury could be severe and persistent. Most of these injuries occur during sports. Those that requires urgent attention come with warnings, symptoms and signs. Acute sport injuries are always noticeable injuries that often creep up gradually and then progress to worse situations that can lead to chronic joint pain, particularly when not taken proper care of at the initial stage. But when such injuries are properly attended to at an early stage, serious damage or long term pain will be avoided. It is important to understand that sport injuries, no matter how mild they seem to appear at the initial stage, should be quickly attended to with the use of proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.

VIRAL INFECTIONS.

A viral disease is any kind infection or illness coursed by a virus which is a species of microbe. The microbes are usually tiny organisms that cannot be seen except with the use of microscopes. Other similar problems include fungi, bacteria, and some kinds of parasites. Infection occurs as any of the above mentioned organisms enter into your body either through breathing air that is already infected, eating contaminated foods or having sexual contact with those that are infected. When such organisms finds their way to your joints it can cause a mild, moderate or severe joint pain. The most common kind of disease that results from viral disease is arthritis particularly reactive arthritis. This disease causes stiffness, swelling and joint pains. Other infections like the common cold, flu and bacterial infections can also cause aching joints.

Joint pain is usually caused by variety of conditions like body or bone injury which is most common with sports, infections, illness, joint strain as well as joint sprain. This pain might appear to be mild, moderate or severe at the initial stage, whichever case it may be; immediate attention needs to be given to it with a proper exercise to avoid acute and chronic joint pain.

Close to 200,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Over 90% are successful with no hip replacement complications during or after surgery. But as with all surgeries, the risk of complications is always a possibility. However, complications are infrequent and often reversible.

The older the person is the higher the risk of complications. A person over 80 years old has a 20% chance of developing at least one complication after hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement complications during surgery

Nerve damage

The sciatic nerve is at risk of being accidentally surgically cut due to its close proximity to the capsule of the hip joint. This same nerve may also become over-stretched during hip manipulation during surgery.

Depending on the extent of the nerve damage, temporary or permanent damage may result. There may be loss of muscle power and feeling in parts of the leg. It may take up to 6 months or more for recovery. Most patients have some numbness around their incision site which may be permanent.

Vascular damage

The damage involves direct trauma to the blood vessels in the area of the surgery. The damaged blood vessel can be repaired by a vascular surgeon if it is caught in time.

Femur fracture

Force is applied during the surgical procedure. This can result in a femoral shaft fracture, especially in older or osteoporotic patients. Again, the problem is addressed during surgery, but may lead to extended rehabilitation. The surgeon may place weight bearing restrictions while you are walking.

Leg length discrepancy

In some cases, it may be difficult to get the exact same leg lengths. The result is usually a longer leg on the surgical hip. It may be unavoidable and deliberate in order to improve muscle function or stabilize the hip. If there is more than a quarter of an inch difference, a shoe lift may be necessary.

In some patients, both legs are the exact same length but they think their surgery leg "feels" longer. In most cases this "feeling" goes away as the patient adjusts to their new hip.

Rarely does shortening of the leg occur. If the leg is significantly shortened after surgery, it may have dislocated.

Anesthetic complications

Complications can occur, and in rare cases even death. Your anesthesiologist will explain the risks involved prior to your surgery.

Hip replacement complications after surgery

Blood clots (DVT-deep vein thrombosis)

This is one of the most common complications after hip replacement. The most common area is in the calf. Increased leg pain is usually the most obvious symptom. Redness around the area of the clots may also occur. It's a minor problem if the clots stay in the leg. But if they dislodge, they can reach the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and can possibly result in death (very rarely).

If your surgeon suspects blood clots, he will immediately order an ultrasound to confirm or rule out clots. Most surgeons will order bed rest until the test results come back positive or negative for blood clots. He will prescribe a blood thinner. Compression boots and ankle/leg exercises help reduce the chance of blood clots.

Infection

Infection can occur during surgery or develop afterwards. It is one of the most serious risks to the joint replacement. If the infection settles deep into the joint and surrounding tissues, the new joint often has to be removed until the infection clears with treatment. If the patient develops an infection elsewhere in the body (bladder, teeth, chest), it must be controlled to prevent the possibility of it spreading through the blood to the new joint.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, or have been taking cortisone for a long time, you are more prone to infection in the weeks following your surgery.

Infection can occur many years after the surgery. Bacteria can travel through the bloodstream from an infection in other parts of your body (bladder infection, infected wound, kidney infection). Oral antibiotics may need to be taken before and after routine dental work years after your hip replacement operation.

Hip dislocation

The first six weeks after hip replacement is the most vulnerable time for your new hip. During this period, muscle tension is the only thing holding the metal ball in the socket. If the metal ball slips out of the socket, it's dislocated. As the hip muscles regain their strength and scar tissue forms around the ball, the risk of hip dislocation diminishes.

Traditional hip replacement requires that certain precautions be taken and some positions/movements are restricted, at least for the first 6 weeks. Your surgeon and physical therapist will instruct you in your hip precautions. Basically, the precautions are:

• do not turn your toes inward
• do not cross you legs
• do not bend your hip more than 60-90 degrees (when sitting, your knee should not be level with your hip, it should be lower)

If dislocation occurs, call an ambulance to get you to the hospital. Your surgeon will pop the hip back into place. If it happens frequently, a hip brace worn for several months will prevent further dislocations. Hip replacement using the anterior approach eliminates the need for hip precautions or restrictions of positions/movements.

Those people who are overweight or have weak muscles are more prone to dislocation. Avoid heavy exercise that puts too much stress on your new hip (running, playing basketball, tennis, heavy lifting). Instead, participate in activities such as walking, swimming, stationary bike.

Trochanteric problems

Your greater trochanter, a large boney part of your femur, is located below and to the outside of the ball of your hip joint. Many of your large hip muscles anchor on the trochanter, so it's essential for normal hip function.

During lateral approach surgery, the trochanter is detached to access the hip joint. It's then reattached. If the trochanter does not heal back on the femur bone, it remains as a separate piece. This may result in pain, weakness, and loss of hip function.

Bowel complications

Constipation frequently occurs for the first week or so after surgery. This can be caused by medication, immobility, loss of appetite, not drinking enough fluids. Stool softeners or enemas may be needed.

Urinary problems

A catheter may be inserted during surgery. Your doctor will order its removal as soon as is practical, as catheters pose an increased risk of urinary infection.

Hematoma formation

During surgery, the main areas of bleeding are controlled by cauterization. But some oozing of blood and fluids still occurs, so a drain is attached from the wound to the outside of the body. If the drain does not work as planned, a collection of blood and fluids forms in the hip area. This can cause pain, pressure, and possible infection. Your surgeon may take you back to surgery to drain the hematoma.

Loosening of the prosthesis

The harder your bones are, the longer your hip replacement will last. Hard bones create a stronger bond. People with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis are more at risk.

Running and heavy impact activities can also loosen the bond of the implant. Keep your weight down, as this will put more stress on the hip joint. Every pound you gain adds three pounds of force on your hip.

Choose a surgeon who has performed many hip replacements. Talk to some of his previous patients to see how they are doing after their hip replacement. Not all surgeons are alike. I have seen a few hip revisions that were necessary only because the initial hip replacement was done poorly by the original surgeon.

Pressure sores

In the immediate days after your hip replacement, you may be spending quite a bit more time in bed. Spending a long period of time in one position can lead to pressure sores. Your heels, especially on your surgery leg, are very susceptible. A pillow or towel roll under your calves will float your heels and relieve pressure. The elderly are especially prone to pressure sores because their skin is softer and they do not move around as well. A close eye should be kept on their heels and tailbone area, and should be regularly repositioned in bed with pillows.

Blood transfusion complications

All blood intended for use in transfusions is screened for Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, syphilis, Human T Cell Leukemia virus, and the AIDS virus. But infections still occur. Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction occurs due to incompatibility with the donors blood type. The most common cause of Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction is clerical error (mislabelled specimen or improperly identifying the patient receiving the blood).

If you plan to use your own blood for possible transfusion, let your doctor know ahead of time so arrangements can be made. Your blood can only be stored for 35 days. Collection should begin at least 10-14 days before your surgery. The final collection occurs not later than 5 working days before the surgery date. Your blood will be screened as well.

About hip revision surgery

Most people who undergo hip replacement surgery will never need to replace their artificial joint. But because more and more people are having hip replacements at a younger age, the wearing away of the joint surface can create problems. After 15-20 years of wear and tear, replacement (revision surgery) of the artificial joint is becoming more common. Revision surgery does not have as good an outcome as the initial surgery.

Consider all the hip replacement complications before you decide on surgery. This is not a complete list of risks, as there may be some rare complications not mentioned here.

Knee surgery can be needed by anyone but it is more often perform in older people than younger people. There are many reasons for one to go for knee surgery, such as sport injuries, arthritis and pain associated with cartilage deterioration and the wearing out of bones.

When to Consider Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee surgery can be prevented sometimes and these methods should be explored first. Losing weight, medication, surgery or physical therapy can sometimes solve certain knee problems. If none of these worked, knee replacement might be your only option. The healthier you are, the less risks there is and recovery would be sooner. People with diabetes or high blood pressure can still go for a knee replacement surgery as long as their illness is under control.

What is Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement can be done partially or as total knee replacement. During the knee surgery, the damaged joints will be replaced with plastic or metal components, shaped to allow better motion in the knee. The operation will last around two hours for different types of knee replacement surgery. The minimal invasive procedures require shorter incisions and thus less scaring. The process is very technical and should only be performed by a highly skilled surgeon.

Recovery after Knee Replacement Surgery

Patients usually stay in the hospital for between 3 and 5 days after the surgery. During the stay, they will start their rehabilitation program immediately. A physical therapist will start working on the mobility with the patient, while the occupational therapist will assist the patient on preparing for usual daily activities such as dressing and washing.

All patients won't recover at the same rate as certain factors would have an influence. Strength, body weight and pain tolerance level of an individual all make a difference to the speed of the recovery.

If the doctor is not satisfied with the rate of recovery in the hospital, patients might still be able to return home after about 5 days and it can be arranged for a therapist to assist them with further sessions at home.

Some patients might need to get extra help at home during the first few weeks. This doesn't have to be done by a trained caregiver, but anyone that can assist with meals or helping the person to get dressed and occasionally go out.

To walk unassisted again will take up to six weeks in certain instances. After two to four weeks the patient might be able to use a cane or walker.

When you go in for a total knee replacement, as I recently have, you will automatically be given antibiotics to help fight infection. This is just part of the process. Knee replacement requires major surgery. The surgeon is going to make an eight inch incision in your. Whenever you are opened up like this the medical team has to be concerned about the risk of infection. Hospitals are full of bacteria, after all.

The antibiotics that are prescribed for you will be administered intravenously during and after the surgery, for a few days. Now we have all heard about antibiotic resistant germs, and this is something that is becoming more of a concern every passing year. Is there anything you can do to help relieve your concerns in this area?

As it turns out, There is a proteolytic enzyme, extracted from the stem of pineapples, that has been reviewed in studies for thirty years, and is now used as a matter of course in some countries around the world, whenever antibiotics are administered.

Bromelain has been found to boost the effectiveness of antibiotics by assisting the body to absorb them more completely and to have an anti-inflammatory effect as well.

In recent studies it has been shown to act as an immunomodulator when administered orally during tumor therapy, by improving the ability of monocytes to act against tumor cells and by inducing the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a, and different forms of interleukin. In addition, reports on animal experiments have claimed antimetastatic effects, inhibiting the growth and invasiveness of tumor cells.

Bromelain is easily available by mail order and is sold as an aid to digestion and wound healing. It is reasonably priced, being under $20 for a months supply. This is definitely a supplement worth doing some research on. It's use in clinical setting has discovered very few negative indications, though individuals with an allergic reaction to pineapple have broken out into rashes upon ingesting this product in some studies.

Supplementation should always be discussed with your doctor. You do not want to take something that will negatively impact on what your medical team is trying to accomplish. On the other hand, you can't expect your doctor to be up to date on the latest information that is available. The best thing you can do is put in some time on reviewing available information yourself. Then go to your doctors well inn advance of any procedure with the info, from credible sources, and express your desire to use the product or particular therapy.

An excellent source of information is PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

You can type in your search topic, and then review abstracts of studies that have been done and published. If you go to your doctor with the results of a published study, or several studies, then your doctor is going to be much more comfortable considering your request.

My husband is now recuperating from knee surgery. I've been watching him go through his therapy and taking walks with him. As we've been walking, come to realize something. His working on walking again is very similar to someone who is starting a running program. Read on to find out why I think this is true.

When first started walking, we went just a little way - actually to the end of the driveway and back. We did this for so many days. Then we walked a little farther. He and I walked this distance for so many days before adding on more distance.

My husband and I have been going a little farther a little at a time. He understands the concept of not doing too much too soon. If he tried to go too far when he first started walking - he stood a very good chance of doing something to his knee that would hinder his healing process. Or possibly damaging it permanently. Adding distance a little at a time is a smart way to grow stronger - and keep from getting re-injured.

Starting a running program is exactly like that. Many people will start off just running out the door. I've even heard of those that have tried to run over a mile the first time they run. This is definitely doing too much too soon - especially if they have not been doing any type of exercise at all.

Those that try to start out too fast have a good chance of getting injured and getting frustrated and then never attempting to run again. Then they talk about all the negative things about running.

The correct way to start is to start slowly. You want to get your body used to moving if you haven't been doing anything. Start by walking. Then, you want to walk so long and run for so long. Then, eventually work up to running without walking. That is the correct way to start a running program.

Running is so great for you. It's important to start out correctly so that you will keep running and enjoy the healthy lifestyle that comes with it for many years to come!

Osteoarthritis is often seen as an inevitable part of aging. As it turns out, people younger than 65 may also develop osteoarthritis. Even though the majority of osteoarthritis patients are older, osteoarthritis is not a necessary facet of aging. Being overweight, having a family history, decreased bone density, a sedentary lifestyle, and previous joint problems are all risk factors for developing osteoarthritis.

In fact, more than 20 million Americans suffer from Degenerative Joint Disease, or osteoarthritis (OA). Knee osteoarthritis is also the major cause of musculoskeletal pain, disability and impaired mobility in elderly populations. Women are most often affected. However, research also shows that elderly people aren't bound to suffer from osteoarthritis pain. There are many holistic ways to address the condition that can have a long-lasting impact on osteoarthritis and the patient's general well being.

The Osteoarthritis Diagnosis
Osteoarthritis affects the cartilage - the tissue on the ends of bones that merge in a joint - and causes the cartilage to break down and gradually wear away. Cartilage is responsible for helping bones smoothly glide over one another. Instead of gliding, however, osteoarthritis causes bones to rub against one another. This can lead to pain, swelling, and motion loss.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made by assessing the patient's clinical history, and performing a physical examination; an x-ray may be needed. Additional tests, such as taking fluid from the joint, may also be recommended.

Signs of osteoarthritis may include, but are not limited to: persistent, steady or recurring joint pain, stiffness in the joints after not moving for a prolonged period of time (this can include sleeping or sitting for extended periods), joint swelling or tenderness, and the sound of bones rubbing against one another, or a "crunching" sound/sensation.

The above are signs that you should contact your chiropractic doctor. Even though an osteoarthritis diagnosis is not difficult to make, oftentimes it's not immediately apparent whether the patient's symptoms is caused by OA. As such, it's important to rule out other disorders and conditions that may be aggravating the symptoms. Making a diagnosis at an early stage of the disease's onset and providing the right course of treatment will help reduce pain, improve overall function, and stall the degeneration process.

Exercise
One of the best forms of treatment for osteoarthritis is through prevention. One of the ways to accomplish this is through adopting some form of regular exercise. Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joints, as well as aids and maintains the joint's function and ability to move. Exercise also helps with weight management and improves the patient's emotional well being; these are factors that can have a significant effect on decreasing the severity of symptoms.

Here are some exercise tips for dealing with osteoarthritis:

• Go for low-impact activities, such as walking, and light weight training. Avoid heavy weights as they can place a strain on your joints.


• Adopt strengthening exercises targeted at the affected muscle groups.


• Develop a careful exercise approach. You don't want to place too much stress on your knee and ankle joints, especially if you are overweight.


• Try climbing stairs or water aerobics. These can help keep the joints mobile without putting a strain on them.


• Make sure to read your body's signals, which tell you when to stop or slow down.


• Your doctor of chiropractic may also recommend proper supplements that play important roles in osteoarthritis prevention and treatment.

Your Doctor of Chiropractic Can Help
By the nature of their work, doctors of chiropractic are able to detect the degenerative changes in the joints at their earliest of stages. Doctors of chiropractic can see and evaluate the impact of degenerative changes in the spine. They can also see their overall impact in the hips, knees, and weight-bearing joints.

Chiropractors are trained experts, with reliable methods of alleviating osteoarthritis pain which, at the same time, improves joint function. Chiropractic doctors do this with the use of natural therapies, such as chiropractic manipulation, massage, and especially designed exercises, as well as a host of other techniques.

Several techniques of repair and transplant have been developed in the field of knee surgery with varying degrees of success. For meniscal repair, a surgeon attaches sutures to hold the edges together. After serious types of ligament injuries the mobility of the knee joint is restricted. Mild ligament injuries usually heal well. During knee surgery recovery, you will need to commit yourself to a program of rehabilitation and should take care to be free from infection during the post operative period.

A total knee replacement or half knee replacement is performed by the surgeon depending on the extent of degenerative damage that your knee has suffered. Half knee replacement is a procedure that is performed if only one side of the knee is damaged. Patients who have undergone this procedure show a quick knee surgery recovery and are able to get to get on with their normal lives within a short period.

Most artificial knees will last ten years or more. Subsequent surgical procedures may be less successful than the original surgery. So, knee replacement is advised for older patients who are less likely to need replacements. During knee surgery recovery, you will be given pain relieving drugs and a course of antibiotics to prevent infection from setting in the joint.

You can try walking the day after the invasive procedure as a part of knee recovery surgery. The physiotherapist will assist you in recommending a specific exercise routine that you may have to follow for resuming the movement in your knee joints. Recovery rates on this kind of surgery vary from person to person. After two weeks you may be able to move about using crutches and within six weeks you may be able to manage even climbing stairs without straining the area around your knee joints.

It is very essential that you practice knee strengthening exercises regularly during knee surgery recovery to maintain the stability of the knee joint. You should take care of your knee and protect it from damage for a period of six months from the time of the surgery. This will ensure that the knee surgery recovery is complete. It may take some more time for the knee to get back its full function.

You must follow an exercise program to strengthen and stretch the muscle groups that support the functioning of the knees to maintain the stability of the joint during knee surgery recovery.

Football is popular in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Every town in the Middle east has a large stadium and the game is played in the streets and village playgrounds. with the world cup around the corner, many amateur footballers will try their skills at the game.

The game of football extracts a heavy toll of ligament and cartilage injuries of the knee joint. These are the commonest ligament injuries and the anterior cruciate ligament has been considered as the most valuable piece of connective tissue in the human body as professional football clubs hand over contracts to footballers worth several millions of Euros and dollars and withdraw them immediately if the player is injured. The MOH hospitals in Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia treat a large number of knee injuries. There have been a larger number of new concepts in the treatment of this injury.

ACL Injury(anterior cruciate ligament injury)

Anatomical background-

The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of four ligaments stabilising the knee joint. Ligaments are cord like tissues, which connect one bone to another. In the knee joint there are four ligaments, namely the medial collateral (inner), lateral collateral (outer), the anterior cruciate and the posterior cruciate. The anterior cruciate ligament runs from the back of the thigh-bone to the front of the inner side of the shin or leg bone. It prevents the leg bone from sliding off in front from the thigh bone. The ACL injury can be a partial sprain or a complete tear

Mechanism of injury-

The most common mechanism is a sports injury where there is a cutting or twisting injury to the knee.

Activities for risk

Injuries in sports like football when the player tries to tackle from the back, his knee twists and he falls to the ground. Involvements in other sports like basketball, cricket, skiing and hockey can also result in ACL injury. A blow to the knee from the front. Patients with cruciate ligament injuries are prone to develop tears of the menisci(semilunar cartilages) and this can lead to secondary osteoarthritis

Symptoms

The person falls to the ground and is unable to continue the sport or activity which he was pursuing. He can feel or hear a popping sound in the knee joint. A swelling develops rapidly. There is a feeling of instability in the knee joint. Pain in the knee immediately, which worsens with the onset of swelling. Repeated giving away of the knee can occur as the patient runs around curves or while coming downstairs

What is the future for a patient with an ACL injury?

Complete ACL injuries result in instability of the knee joint. Whenever the person runs or comes downstairs rapidly the tibia slides off the femur. This can lead to repeated falls. These can result in injuries to the semilunar cartilages or menisci. Meniscal tears can lead to mechanical symptoms like locking or unexpected falls.

A combination of persistent ligamentous laxity and meniscal tears can result in the development of secondary osteo-arthritis.

Treatment- RICE

(Rest, ice, compression, elevation). An ACL injury is a serious one which needs medical attention immediately. The surgeon may aspirate the blood inside the joint to provide comfort. He may order a MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis immediately. An ACL injury can be treated conservatively in those individuals who are willing to restrict their sporting activity. For those unwilling to do so, surgical treatment is advisable. Surgical treatment consists of an examination under anesthesia, arthroscopy and ACL reconstruction. The orthopedic surgeon may decide to take a graft from the patellar tendon or hamstrings. Bony tunnels are drilled through the tibia and femur and the graft is fixed.