Torn ACLs not just a problem for men, pros

Any given Sunday, football players go down hurt.

Read the injury reports, last week there were three top stars felled, to learn that a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in the knees was the most common season ender in the National Football League. We know they put their bodies in jeopardy with every play, but, did you know that women are more prone to torn ACLs than men?

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “Several studies have shown that female athletes have a higher incidence of ACL injury than male athletes in certain sports. It has been proposed that this is due to differences in physical conditioning, muscular strength, and neuromuscular control. Other hypothesized causes of this gender-related difference in ACL injury rates include pelvis and lower extremity (leg) alignment, increased ligamentous laxity, and the effects of estrogen on ligament properties.”

So, what in the knee is the ACL? The AAOS says, “The bone structure of the knee joint is formed by the femur, the tibia, and the patella. The ACL is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur to the tibia.

“The knee is essentially a hinged joint that is held together by the medial collateral (MCL), lateral collateral (LCL), anterior cruciate (ACL) and posterior cruciate (PCL) ligaments. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as providing rotational stability to the knee.” Got that?

Approximately 200,000 people will have a torn ACL each year with half of them needing surgical repairs. And, although most of the patients are athletes involved in contact sports, it can happen to anyone who happens to stop suddenly to change direction or pivoting with your foot firmly planted, twisting or hyperextending your knee. Skiers are vulnerable, as are those of us who play basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The Mayo Clinic says that landing awkwardly from a jump or being involved in a car crash can also cause an ACL injury.

People often say they hear a loud “pop” sound followed by severe pain and an inability to continue the game. The knee will start swelling and get worse a few hours after the initial injury. You might feel like you can’t put your weight on it; that it feels unstable.

Don’t hesitate, seek medical assistance right away. You and your medical provider will make the decision about treatment based on your lifestyle. Physical therapy can restore the knee to a condition close to its pre-injury state and you can learn how to prevent instability. However, if you wish to resume the sport that caused the injury, surgery may be your only option.

Regardless of what you and your provider think of surgery, you’re certainly going to be on crutches for a while, and possibly will need a knee brace. You’ll need rest, plenty of ice on the knee, a compression bandage and a lot of time lying around with your leg propped up on pillows. Then, you’ll be wise to engage in some exercises that will increase your range-of-motion with muscle-strengthening and stability exercises thrown in.

“A torn ACL can’t be successfully sewn back together,” Mayo Clinic says regarding the option to have surgery, “so the ligament is usually replaced with a piece of tendon from another part of your knee or leg. A tendon graft from a deceased donor also may be an option. This surgery is usually performed through small incisions around your knee joint. A narrow, fiber-optic viewing scope is used to guide the placement of the ACL graft.”

Now you know what the NFL pros are going through, let’s hope you don’t join them!

Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.