

The new ACL is harvested from the patellar tendon that connects the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). The goal of ACL reconstruction surgery is to tighten your knee and to restore its stability.Īnterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patellar tendon is a surgical procedure to replace the torn ACL with part of the patellar tendon taken from the patient’s leg. During the pivot shift test, if the ACL is torn the tibia will move forward when the knee is completely straight and as the knee bends past 30° the tibia shifts back into correct place in relation to the femur. Pivot shift test is another test to assess ACL tear.

During a Lachman test, knees with a torn ACL may show increased forward movement of the tibia and a soft or mushy endpoint compared to a healthy knee. In addition, your doctor will often perform the Lachman’s test to see if the ACL is intact. X-rays may be needed to rule out any fractures. DiagnosisĪn ACL injury can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination of the knee and diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRI scans and arthroscopy. You may notice that the knee feels unstable or seems to give way, especially when trying to change direction on the knee. Within a few hours after an ACL injury, your knee may swell due to bleeding from vessels within the torn ligament. When you injure your ACL, you might hear a loud "pop" sound and you may feel the knee buckle. Direct blow to the side of your knee, such as during a football tackle.Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is surgery to reconstruct the torn ligament of your knee with a tissue graft.Īn ACL injury most commonly occurs during sports that involve twisting or overextending your knee. Anterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive forward movement of the lower leg bone (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) as well as limits rotational movements of the knee.Ī tear of this ligament can make you feel as though your knees will not allow you to move or even hold you up. Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and helps stabilize the knee joint.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction patellar tendon is a surgical procedure that replaces the injured ACL with a patellar tendon.
