Nerve Damage Symptoms From Knee ACL Reconstrution

The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is located in the knee and is responsible for stabilizing the knee. Its main function is to prevent the knee joint from buckling. It is a common ligament to injure. Injuries usually occur when there is a quick direction change or contact to the knee. Surgery is often necessary, however, while very rare, nerve damage can occur with this surgery.

Identification

• The ACL ligament can be partially or fully torn. Sometimes the ligament can completely separate from the bone. Reconstruction is preformed by taking a piece of tendon from another area of the body and using it to repair the ligament. All of this work can occasionally do damage to a nearby nerve.

Minor Nerve Damage Symptoms

• After ACL reconstruction surgery, you may have numbness around the incision. The knee joint may also feel stiff. In some cases, there is an increased level of knee pain as well.

Other Symptoms

• If the nerves around the knee joint are damaged during surgery, you may experience muscle weakness. This can occur in the muscles right around the knee or may involve the entire leg.

Additional Symptoms

• Other symptoms you may experience are numbness or tingling on the top of the foot and difficulty walking. A loss of sensation in the legs and feet can occur if there is significant nerve damage.

Severe Symptoms

• If the nerve damage from ACL reconstruction is severe enough, you may experience sensations of numbness, tingling or burning in the entire leg. You may have trouble lifting your toes, and develop a condition called drop foot.