Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) (continued)
The one-piece bone and tendon graft (as seen on the left) will be anchored inside of the knee joint in the exact anatomical position as the patient's original ACL ligament.
As seen on the right, a "reamer" is utilized prior to graft placement to clean out any potential obstructions within recipient bone canals.
GRAFT PLACEMENT WITH
ANCHORING SCREWS
As seen on the left, the ACL graft is placed through drill holes in the femur and tibia, and then securely anchored into these bones with two "interference screws". These screws hold the bone grafts in proper position while the grafts heal with the surrounding bone tissue. A close-up view of one type of this "interference screw" is shown below.
The proper placement and alignment of this graft insures that the reconstructed knee will function as it did in its pre-injury condition. Care is taken to place the ligament graft into the correct anatomical position, so that optimal knee joint function and stability will be achieved. Once healed, and following rehabilitation, the graft's function closely matches that of the original ACL, and restores stability to the knee joint.
ANCHORING SCREWS
As seen on the left, the ACL graft is placed through drill holes in the femur and tibia, and then securely anchored into these bones with two "interference screws". These screws hold the bone grafts in proper position while the grafts heal with the surrounding bone tissue. A close-up view of one type of this "interference screw" is shown below.
The proper placement and alignment of this graft insures that the reconstructed knee will function as it did in its pre-injury condition. Care is taken to place the ligament graft into the correct anatomical position, so that optimal knee joint function and stability will be achieved. Once healed, and following rehabilitation, the graft's function closely matches that of the original ACL, and restores stability to the knee joint.
The incision on the patellar tendon is closed with sutures. Recovery time for this type of surgery may take several months. Because each patient's knee and each injury may be different, an individually tailored, post-operative rehabilitation program is designed to assure each patient of the best outcome.
If you should have a question or concern about anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, or other knee problems, please use our e-mail form to submit a question to our office. Please allow 2 to 3 business days for a reply.
