The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (or ACL) along with the Posterior Cruciate ligament form the duo of cruciate ligaments that are arranged in the middle of the knee in humans. The ACL not only prevents the shin bone from sliding in front of the thigh bone but also provides rotational stability to the knee during turning or planting of the leg. One among the common knee injuries, ACL tears occur largely in athletes active in contact sports such as soccer and football, which involves a sudden change in direction. Women are more likely to get an ACL injury due to the differences in strength of the muscles and neuromuscular control.
According to global estimates, over 70% of the ACL injuries occur during non-contact, while only 30% of the injuries happen when in direct contact with another person or object. Additionally, more than 50% of the ACL injuries also cause damage to other parts of the knee.
Depending on the complexity of the injury, one can receive an Anterior cruciate ligament tear treatment in India at affordable costs and from the best of surgeons.
This article discusses the treatment methods that one can consider for an ACL tear.
First level of treatment for an ACL tear
Immediately after sustaining an ACL injury, you must consider the following treatment methods:
- First aid methods aimed to reduce the knee swelling and pain. This should include resting your injured knee, applying an ice pack to reduce the swelling, and using an elastic bandage to apply gentle pressure to the affected part.
- In case of severe pain, you can consider taking anti-inflammatory or pain-killing medicines such as acetaminophen.
- Use of a crutch for a few days, to reduce the movement of the knees.
Additional treatment options
The type of additional treatment method depends on the level of the ACL tear (Grade 1, 2, or 3 sprain), along with other patient-related factors such as age, activity level, and medical history.
Partially-torn ACL tears can be treated effectively with recovery and rehabilitation, which typically lasts for around 3 months. For children with ACL injuries, an acl reconstruction surgery provides better results than a delay in surgery, while nonsurgical methods of treatment are recommended only for children having open growth plates in their knees.
Surgical or Nonsurgical treatment
Surgical treatments that result in the reconstruction of the ACL have recorded high success rates between 82-95%. ACL surgeries are generally recommended for athletes or active individuals who perform manual work that involves regular knee turning or pivoting.
Nonsurgical treatments are only recommended in the case of partial ACL tears and for individuals who live a more sedentary lifestyle with no manual work. Nonsurgical methods include physical therapy and rehabilitation that can restore the injured knee to its pre-injury state.
ACL surgery in India
Knee patients can undergo ACL tear treatment in Mumbai and other Indian metros including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Chennai. These specialized hospitals can review your particular case and can consult you on whether to go for surgical or nonsurgical treatment for your ACL tear.
Conclusion
While most Indian hospitals offer competitive pricing on their surgery packages, you can visit the PSTakecare website to enquire and discover surgery packages that suit your requirement and budget. You can also use the website to directly book the doctor’s appointment at the hospital of your choice.
