Knee Swelling and ACL Tears

While playing basketball last week, I felt a "pop" in my knee when planting my foot. I now have considerable swelling and the knee feels unstable. Do I have ligament damage?

Dr. Bernard R. Bach:

Unfortunately, it sounds as though you may have torn your Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL. The ACL is basically a one to two inch "cable" that connects your thighbone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). As one of the four major ligaments that hold your knee together, the ACL has the critical job of restraining the tibia from shifting forward from the femur.

Basketball is an extremely tough sport on your ACL. Jumping, planting, and cutting places extreme force on the ligament. Moreover, the repetition of these actions can cause the ACL to stretch, like a rubber band, until the ligament fatigues and snaps.

Treatment Options:

Immediate care should consist of icing the knee, immobilizing it, and using crutches if necessary. You should also contact a sports medicine physician immediately for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

In some cases, ACL tears can be treated nonsurgically. If you plan to resume activity in a strenuous activity like basketball, however, you'll probably need to consider reconstructive surgery. These days, the ACL surgery is fairly routine and performed on an outpatient basis using one of several graft options. Your surgeon will help you determine the best graft option for you. Generally, four to six months of postoperative rehabilitation is required before your knee is again ready for the rigors of basketball.

For more information about Dr. Bach and the Sports Medicine physicians of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, call 877 MD BONES or contact us through this Web site.

This information is not intended as a substitute for the professional advice of your physician, nor to be a complete description of every aspect of a condition, nor a complete list of possible side effects of any medication. Decisions concerning your treatment should be based on your own health care provider's evaluation of your personal health history and current condition. Consult your physician before following any of the suggestions on this Web site. All articles on this Web site represent the personal opinions of the individual authors and should not be construed as official policy of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.