ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/ACL DAMAGE
A ligament is a combination of hard fibrous material to control and protect extreme motion by restraining joint mobility.
Cruciate means cross. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) crosses the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) to form an X, or a cross.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four precarious combined ligaments to steadying the knee joint.
The ACL is the most recurrently damaged knee ligament.
ACL Function
The knee joint anatomy is very difficult to understanding.
The ACL role is contributing steadiness to other movements at the joint including the angulation and the rotation at the knee joint.
The ACL performs these roles by fastening to the femur on one end, and to the tibia on the other.
Note that the other major ligaments of the knee are knon as: the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL, respectively.
Arthroscopy that allows looking inside the knee shows that the ACL is easily visualized.
Frequently, a careful exam to the knee can differenciate between an ACL normal functioning and an ACL damaged.
Grades of ACL Twisting
When a ligament is damaged, it is called a sprain or twisting.
Ligament twisting is classified by grades depending on the damage seriousness.
Regarding the ACL, it is graded from 1 to 3:
Grade 1 ACL damage:
A grade 1 ACL damage is a twist. In this grade, the ligament has an insignificant damage and the knee joint is remaining steady.
Grade 2 ACL injury:
A grade 2 ACL sprain is a partial tear with the ligament strained and damaged.
Grade 3 ACL injury: A grade 3 ACL sprain is a ligament complete tear and it is the most frequent kind of ACL damage.
A grade 3 ACL sprain classically needs surgical intervention.