Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
An anterior cruciate ligament injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is either stretched, partially torn, or completely torn. [1] The most common injury is a complete tear. [ 1 ] Symptoms include pain, an audible cracking sound during injury, instability of the knee, and joint swelling . [ 1 ]
Anterior cruciate ligament surgery is a complex operation that requires expertise in the field of orthopedic and sports medicine. Many factors should be considered when discussing surgery, including the athlete's level of competition, age, previous knee injury, other injuries sustained, leg alignment, and graft choice.
Injuries to the PLC often occur in combination with other ligamentous injuries to the knee; most commonly the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). [2] As with any injury, an understanding of the anatomy and functional interactions of the posterolateral corner is important to diagnosing and treating the injury.
Anterior cruciate ligament tear seen on MRI. An anterior cruciate ligament injury results from excess tension on the ligament. This can come from a sudden stop or twisting motion of the knee. A few initial symptoms include swelling, knee instability, and pain. A popping sound or sensation may or may not be heard when the ACL first tears.
Moving to the femoral attachments of the ligaments, the first step is identifying the adductor magnus muscle tendon, and its corresponding attachment site, near the adductor tubercle. Just distal and slightly anterior to this tubercle is the bony prominence of the medial epicondyle .
It extends from the lower margin of the patella above, to the infrapatellar synovial fold below. With its free upper margin, this fold extends dorsally through the joint space to surround the two cruciate ligaments from the front, thus dividing the surrounding joint space into two chambers. Laterally of this are a pair of alar folds. [2]
Fracture of the neck of the fibula may also be found, and associated injury to the medial collateral ligament or cruciate ligaments occurs in about 10% of cases. [7] [8] However, most of these fractures occur from motor vehicle accidents or falls. Injury can be due to a fall from height in which knee forced into valgus or varus.
The tibia is pulled forward to assess the amount of anterior motion of the tibia in comparison to the femur. An intact ACL should prevent forward translational movement ("firm endpoint") while an ACL-deficient knee will demonstrate increased forward translation without a decisive endpoint - a soft or mushy endpoint indicative of a positive test.