What is ACL

ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL) CLINIC

ACL CLINIC at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

At Apollo Hospitals, Chennai we have a dedicated ACL Clinic. ACL Clinic – an injury or disease specific clinic, whereby tailor-made clinical services are provided by our Apollo Sports Injury Specialist who is internationally trained with more than a decade of experience and possessing expertise in treating sports injuries which includes ACL Injury as well

What is Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). It functions as a stabiliser of the knee joint and it resists forward movement of the tibia on the femur and also acts to prevent the tibia from excessive rotation when pivoting or changing direction.

Anatomy of ACL:

There are 2 bundles with in ACL. They are AM & PL Bundles

AM: Antero Medial bundle

• Tight in flexion
• Responsible for restraining anterior tibial translation (anterior drawer test)

PL: Postero Lateral bundle

• Tight in extension
• Responsible for rotational stability (pivot shift test)

ACL Composition

• 90% Type I collagen
• 10% Type III collagen

ACL Injury (sprain or tear)

It is the most common knee injury (20.3% of all knee injuries). Individuals who participate in fitness activities, exercise & sports (contact as well as non-contact) are more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligament. Certain individuals could also sustain ACL injury from fall, twist (pivoting) or accidents.

Types of ACL Tear/Injury

ACL injuries can be partial or complete. ACL can be ruptured from the femoral or tibial insertion. Sometimes it’s a mid-substance tear. ACL can also be avulsed with a small piece of bone.

Signs and Symptoms of an ACL injury

• A loud “pop” or a “popping” sensation in the knee at the time of injury
• Severe pain and inability to continue the activity
• Within 24-hours of injury, the knee swells rapidly. Often the swelling and pain gets resolved on its own. However, any attempt to return to sports can cause instability in knee. This may further damage the cushioning cartilage (meniscus) of the knee and main weight bearing cartilage, which can lead to early onset of osteo-arthritis
• A loss of range of motion, ACL injury affects the normal bending or flexion of the injured knee
• The pain makes walking or weight-bearing very difficult, hence a feeling of instability or giving way.