ACL reconstruction surgery is a medical procedure in which the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is repaired and re-constructed after the tear of the ligament. The ACL is an important structure in front of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. ACL is most commonly injured in athletes who participate in sports injury. The damaged ACL is usually repaired by the orthopedic surgeons. In the surgery, they repair the ACL by a graft which is exactly like the ACL before the injury and also performs the function normally. The ACL injury can be a complete or partial tear. In case of partial tear, the ACL may heal without any surgery. But in a complete tear of the ACL, surgery is required for proper treatment. Usually, ACL injuries are treated by a multidisciplinary approach in which a team of orthopedic surgeon, general physician, radiologists and physical therapist works together. People who have a tear of the ACL are more prone to develop knee diseases in later stages of their life. The ACL reconstruction is usually performed after 3-6 weeks of injury and not immediately because the swelling remains in the area for 3 weeks. If the surgery is performed early before the swelling has subsided, it can cause scarring of the knee joint. ACL reconstruction surgery allows the athletes to return to their sports after 6-9 months.
Types of Acl Reconstruction Surgery Treatment India
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction surgery is a common procedure performed to repair a torn ACL in the knee. There are several different types of ACL reconstruction surgery. Some of these types are:
- Autograft ACL reconstruction
- Allograft ACL reconstruction
- Synthetic graft ACL reconstruction
Autograft ACL Reconstruction
In this type of ACL reconstruction surgery, surgeons use the patient’s own body tissue to reconstruct the ACL. The most common autografts used by the surgeons are:
- Patellar tendon autograft
- Quadriceps tendon autograft
- Hamstring tendon autograft
Allograft ACL Reconstruction
In this type of reconstruction surgery, the tissue from the cadaver is donated to the patient, who cannot use its own tissues for reconstruction. Some of the allografts used are:
- patellar tendon graft
- hamstring tendon graft
- Achilles tendon graft
Synthetic graft ACL Reconstruction
Synthetic grafts are not as commonly used as autografts or allografts, but they may be an option for specific cases. Synthetic grafts are made up of the artificial materials that are suitable for the human body and can perform the maximum normal function. Some of the synthetic material that used in ACL reconstruction are:
- Polyester
- polyethylene terephthalate
Procedure of ACL Reconstruction
Preoperative Assessment
Before the surgery, the patient undergoes a detailed examination which includes tests, x-rays and medical history to decide the type of ACL reconstruction surgery.
Anesthesia
ACL reconstruction is typically performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient will be asleep during the procedure.
Graft Selection
The surgeon will discuss the choice of graft with the patient before the procedure. The graft can be autograft (using the patient's own tissue) or allograft (using tissue from a donor) or it can be an artificial synthetic graft.
Incision: The surgeon makes small incisions around the knee to access the joint.
ACL Removal
The damaged ACL is carefully removed along with any damaged tissue and muscle which is present in the surrounding.
Placement of Graft
The surgeon drills into the shinbone and thighbone to create new attachment points for the graft. The graft is then positioned through these tunnels which is exactly like the ACL before the injury.
Postoperative Care
The patient will be given postoperative care, which may include pain management, physical therapy, and the use of medications to prevent blood clot formation. The movements should be performed under the guidance of a physical therapist.
Cost of ACL Reconstruction Surgery in India
The cost of ACL reconstruction surgery in India ranges from USD 2500 to USD 5000. But it can vary according to the type of graft used in the reconstruction surgery, surgeon’s skill, hospital, patients’ presentation at the time of treatment and also the city of India in which the surgery is performed.
Cost of ACL reconstruction surgery in different cities of India:
Delhi : $ 1910 - $ 2728
Ahmedabad : $ 1594 - $ 2278
Bangalore : $ 1875 - $ 2678
Mumbai : $ 1980 - $ 2828
Pune : $ 1805 - $ 2578
Chennai : $ 1717 - $ 2453
Indications of ACL Reconstruction Surgery
Here are some conditions where ACL reconstruction surgery may be used:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear
- Partial ACL rupture
- ACL sprain
- Chronic ACL instability
- ACL-related knee instability
- Recurrent ACL injuries
- ACL avulsion fracture
- Multi ligament knee injury
- Combined ACL and meniscus tear.
Risk Factors of ACL Reconstruction Surgery
Like any surgical procedure, there are certain risk factors associated with ACL reconstruction surgery. Here are some of the risk factors:
Bleeding
In surgery, there is a risk of excessive bleeding if not managed properly. A proper closure after the surgery is necessary to avoid any bleeding.
Infection
Open surgeries are always the major risk factor to catch any infection. The infection can spread to the whole body if proper medications are not used.
Blood Clots
Blood clots can be formed in legs and also can travel to major organs in the body like brain, heart and lungs where they can cause some serious complications and even death.
Graft Failure
Sometimes grafts fail to heal properly and may damage again. This is less common in case of autografts. In case of graft failure, an additional surgery is required.
Damage to Nerves and Blood Vessels
There is a small possibility of damaging nerves or blood vessels in the area under surgery. This can lead to numbness, weakness, pain or other complications in the affected side of the leg.
06/27/2024
