What Are the Treatments for a Partially Torn ACL?

The ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament, one of four ligaments in your knee that connect your tibia and femur, and the most common one to be injured. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), it occurs about 200,000 times each year, occurring more frequently among those who participate in sports, such as football, soccer, basketball and skiing. Treatment depends on your lifestyle more so than whether it is partially or completely torn.

Physical Therapy

• In some instances, physical therapy can be implemented to treat a partial or a complete ACL tear. It is an option for individuals with no symptoms of instability during less physically demanding sports, higher demanding sports can be avoided, the patient has a sedentary lifestyle, and he does not have a manual job that is physically demanding. In addition, physical therapy is used for children that still have open growth plates, according to the AAOS. Along with physical therapy, a hinged knee brace can provide support.

Surgery

• Surgical repair involves a replacement for the ACL made from tendons, such as the patellar tendon, the hamstring tendon, allograft patellar tendon, semitendinosus, gracilis, Achilles tendon or posterior tibialis tendon. Grafts are used because ACL tears that have been sewn together, typically end up failing. The AAOS indicates that the success rate (long-term) for this type of surgical reconstruction is between 82 and 95 percent.

Complications

• Complications of surgery include the risk of viral transmission, such as hepatitis C and HIV, paralysis or weakness of your leg or foot, bacterial infection, bleeding due to injury of the popliteal artery, blood clot, loss of motion and stiffness in your knee, instability, rupture of your patellar tendon, pain in your kneecap and, in the case of young children, growth plate injury.

Rehabilitation

• If you make the decision to have reconstructive surgery, you can expect to have physical therapy and rehabilitation following your surgery. During the first ten days to two weeks, being able to completely straighten your knee is emphasized. Your doctor may have you use a postoperative brace, and possibly a machine that moves your knee during therapy. Crutches may be used for a period of time as well. Complete rehabilitation may take between four and six months.

Considerations

• If you are an active individual that participates in sports or have a job where you must pivot or turn hard (such as heavy manual labor), surgery may be highly recommended. According to AAOS, surgery should be determined by level of activity. If you have a torn ACL and are having instability problems, you are at a higher risk of secondary injuries and in this case, surgery may be encouraged. Combined injuries such as a torn ACL as well as a torn meniscus, also indicate surgical treatment. If your activity level is low and you have no desire to continue participating in sports, nonsurgical treatment (physical therapy and rehabilitation) may be your best choice.