What is a Torn ACL? Answers from Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine of Houston
A torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a knee injury that is especially common among athletes but that can also affect individuals of all ages and activity levels. The ACL is one of four main ligaments in the knee. It runs diagonally across the knee, connecting the femur (the leg bone) to the tibia (the shin bone) and providing stability when the knee rotates.
Being bent or twisted in the wrong direction can cause the ACL to tear; so can being subjected to a sudden impact. It’s common for a torn ACL to be accompanied by other ligament damage, such as a torn MCL or PCL.
What does a torn ACL feel like?
If you tear your ACL, you’ll likely feel (and possibly hear) a sharp popping sensation in your knee. Pain and swelling are common and can occur immediately after the injury. Other torn ACL symptoms include:
- A feeling of instability in the knee or an inability to place weight on it
- Tenderness in the joint
- A loss of range of motion
ACL injuries typically require immediate medical treatment. Attempting physical activity on a torn ACL can make the damage worse and complicate the healing process.
How do you treat a torn ACL?
If the ACL is only partially torn, it’s possible to treat it through conservative therapies, such as bracing, medication and physical therapy. In some instances, complete tears can also be rehabilitated without surgery, although surgical reconstruction is often necessary to restore full stability to the knee.
At Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine of Houston, Texas, we provide a comprehensive range of torn ACL treatments. Our knee injury specialists can evaluate your injury and help you determine the least invasive, most effective treatment options for your specific situation. We have a team of orthopedic physicians who exclusively treat knee injuries, such as torn ACLs, who can provide you with individualized recommendations. To learn more, contact us today.
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1Professional Building II At North Cypress Medical Center
AOSM Physical Therapy
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2North Cypress Professional Building At Lakewood Crossing
AOSM Physical Therapy -
3North Cypress Professional Building At Towne Lake
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4Advanced Orthopaedics Memorial
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5Woodlands Location
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I never review places or services on Facebook, but I could not let others know how blessed I was to have Dr. Cubbage as my surgeon. He and his lovely staff, including awesome Karen,
Dr. Mills is a great hand specialist. He gets right to the point and is very kind to offer exercises to do to get my full range of motion back.
Dr. Tanous and everyone at Advanced Orthopaedics are great. The surgery to repair my knee injury and the treatment afterwards were handled amazingly well.
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I flew in for my appointment in the middle of Covid. He was recommended as a top ortho by my employer’s medical concierge team. He is incredible… surgery a breeze on my knee… zero pain the next day. His team and office staff are top notch – on par with Mayo Clinic. We are fortunate to have doctors like him…
Always awesome. Everyone is kind, very professional and thorough. Dr Blalock and his team go out of their way to help any way they can.
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I have to give everyone 5 stars from the front office and staff to Dr. Blalock and Dr. Patel all were great with very professional service.
The surgery done by Dr. S. Patel (Actually injections) & the mild medications she has prescribed has surely made my lower back -hip-leg less painful.