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ACL Injuries, Sports Medicine

Suraj A. Achar, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM and Kenneth S. Taylor, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a critical stabilizer of the knee.

  • The ACL provides stability against anterior translation of the knee and is a secondary stabilizer of tibial ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Many patients with an ACL tear feel a “pop” in their knee, followed by an acute swelling of the knee within hours.

  • In the absence of bony trauma, an immediate effusion is believed to h...

TREATMENT

  • Most patients who sustain an ACL injury are active in some type of sports. Expectations after injury vary based on age and activity. Reconstruction is an elective procedure for most individu...

ONGOING CARE

  • Patients are now returning to activity sooner after reconstruction. Return to sport depends more on strength and proprioception than on time from surgery. Usual return to sport may fall b...

REFERENCES

1
Chappell JD, Creighton RA, Giuliani C, et al. Kinematics and electromyography of landing preparation in vertical stop-jump: risks for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. Am J Spo...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Nearly all patients with an acute ACL tear have an effusion.

  • Noncontact injuries account for the majority of ACL tears.

  • ACL reconstruction does not protect against the development of ost...

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