The success rate of knee ligament repair reaches 90% of cases, and the patient can lead his life normally after the operation. What is the reason behind tearing of knee ligaments? How are knee ligaments repaired?

 

Types of knee ligaments

The knee joint is supported by a group of ligaments that work to hold the joint in place. They are divided into 4 types:

 

     Anterior cruciate ligament.

     Posterior cruciate ligament.

     Internal lateral ligaments.

     External collateral ligaments.

 

Causes of knee ligament rupture

Tearing of the posterior or anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most serious injuries to the knee ligaments. They are two ligaments that intersect in a cruciate manner to connect the femur (Femur) and the shin bone (Tibia) to maintain normal knee movement. Knee ligament injuries are usually widespread among athletes as a result of the following: :

 

     Knee sprain while skiing.

      A collision occurs while playing a sport that uses a ball.

     Sudden braking while running at high speed.

     Improper falling when jumping or turning.

     Knee joint stretching.

 

Symptoms of torn knee ligaments

Knee ligament tears are accompanied by a group of symptoms that vary in severity depending on the degree of tear and the type of affected ligament, including the following:

 

     Pain accompanied by tingling.

     Severe swelling in the knee joint.

     Hearing a cracking and clicking sound during joint movement.

     Inability to move the knee joint fully.

 

When does knee ligament repair become necessary?

The necessity of performing the operation depends on the type of affected ligament and the degree of injury as follows:

 

     Cruciate ligament reconstruction

Reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament and rebuilding the posterior cruciate ligament require knee ligament repair. Not performing surgery exposes the joint to severe damage over the years. The damage is as follows:

 

     The articular surfaces and meniscus of the knee are exposed to excessive pressure and stress, causing cartilage to wear away.

     Inflammation of the knee joint due to cartilage erosion.

     Damage to the medial meniscus ligament.

     Damage to the collateral ligament.

     Rupture of the knee joint capsule.

 

     Repair of the external ligaments of the knee

 

  Minor to moderate external ligament tears can be repaired with some physiotherapy, including:

 

     Apply ice to the affected knee several times during the day to reduce pain and swelling.

     Do not move the knee and avoid increasing the pressure on it.

      Elevate the leg on a pillow while sleeping.

     Use an elastic bandage to compress the knee and limit its movement until the tear is complete.

     Physical therapy and exercises for knee sprains recommended by the doctor.

     Take medications prescribed by the doctor, which include analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs that help reduce pain and swelling, such as ibuprofen.

 

In cases of severe tearing of the external knee ligaments, treatment requires surgery to repair the ligaments.

 

How to perform knee ligament repair

If the tear is in the cruciate ligament or a severe tear in the external ligaments, the knee ligament repair operation is performed after the wound has healed and all accompanying injuries are completely recovered, that is, about two to three months after the ligament tear. It is a surgical procedure that takes between one and a half to two hours under the influence of General or partial anesthesia, and there are two ways to perform the operation:

 

     Ligament replacement surgery

It is the most common surgical procedure, in which the surgeon replaces the damaged ligament with another muscle taken from the patient’s own knee (autograft), and is often part of the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shin bone (tibia), or from the hamstring tendon on the side. Back of the knee.

 

Its advantages:

     . Using an autograft prevents the body from rejecting the transplanted ligaments.

     . The speed of integration of the graft with the knee tissue and its nourishment by subsequent blood vessels.

 

Disadvantages:

   . Feeling pain where the graft is cut, which may last for several months.

    . Weakness of the patient’s leg, as the knee’s bearing capacity decreases. This is observed in athletes, but does not leave any effect in ordinary people.

     . Damage to the nerves responsible for guiding the knee, which is a tissue that cannot be rebuilt.

 

     Ligament repair surgery

It is the newest procedure, where the surgeon stabilizes the torn ligament with artificial supports, and it is distinguished from its counterpart as follows:

 

     Keeping all the nerves in the ligaments intact, thus maintaining the patient’s control of knee movement.

     Do not harm the hamstrings, which maintains their endurance and avoids the side effects of using an autograft.

 

Post-operative knee ligament repair

After completing the knee ligament repair process, the knee is fixed in an upright position using a brace to keep the joint immobile for a period of time. It is then replaced with a brace with four fixation positions to regulate flexion and extension of the knee joint, with the necessity of physical therapy to rehabilitate the knee joint after the operation.

 

You can book an appointment with Dr. Ibrahim Gado – consultant orthopedic and artificial joint surgeon – through the clinic numbers shown on the website.

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