ACL Repair in Chillicothe, Ohio
What is the ACL?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone). The other three are the medial collateral (MCL), lateral collateral (LCL) and posterior cruciate (PCL) ligaments. Your collateral ligaments are on the sides of your knee. They control sideways motion and brace your knee against unusual movement. Your cruciate ligaments are inside your knee. They control the back and forth motion of your knee.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs diagonally in the middle of your knee. The ACL is one of the most commonly injured ligaments of the knee. ACL injuries account for over 50 percent of all knee injuries. Approximately 150,000 ACL injuries occur in the United States every year. About half of all ACL injuries occur in combination with injury to the meniscus, articular cartilage or other ligaments.
Diagnosing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
An ACL injury can generally be diagnosed through physical examination. However, Dr. Cohen or one of his sports medicine colleagues will obtain a complete “history of present illness” from you and conduct a focused, comprehensive physical exam to evaluate your knee for areas of tenderness, assess stability and range of motion and establish if you have normal or decreased strength. Depending on the findings they may order an X-ray, ultrasound and/or an MRI to rule out other injuries and show the full extent of the ACL injury.
Why Choose Dr. Cohen?
OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
One of the first orthopedic surgeons employed by a large hospital. Dr. Cohen spent 20 years.
TRUSTED BY OVER 100,000+ PATIENTS WORLDWIDE
Over his distinguished career, Dr. Cohen has cultivated a reputation of excellence and trust among his patients and his peers.
UTILIZING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
To achieve the best surgical outcomes, Dr. Cohen utilizes the most advanced technologies and techniques, keeping his practice state of the art.
PATIENT SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY
An individualized, patient-focused process coupled with decades of training and experience help ensure maximum safety for all of Dr. Cohen’s patients.
ACL Injury Causes and Risk Factors
ACL injuries often happen during activities that put stress on the knee, including:
- Suddenly slowing down and changing direction (“cutting”)
- Stopping suddenly
- Pivoting while your foot is firmly planted
- Awkward landings
- A collision or a direct blow to the knee
Women are more likely than men to injure their ACLs. Other factors that increase the risk of an ACL injury include:
- Poor conditioning
- Wearing improperly fitting footwear
- Utilizing poorly maintained sports equipment
- Participating in sports such as soccer, football, gymnastics and downhill skiing
ACL Injury Symptoms
Symptoms of an ACL injury include:
- Hearing or feeling a pop in the knee at the time of the injury
- Intense pain on the outside and back of the knee
- Knee swelling within the first few hours of injury
- A feeling of instability in the knee
- Limited knee movement
ACL Treatment Options
If you have any symptoms of an ACL injury, you should use the RICE method of rest, ice, compression and elevation to reduce swelling in your knee. You should also seek medical attention. Dr. Cohen or one of his sports medicine colleagues will advise you as to whether rehabilitation or surgery is recommended for your knee.
ACL Surgery and Rehabilitation
Surgery is usually advisable when an athlete wants to continue playing their sport competitively, when there are additional injuries to the knee or when the injury is causing the knee to buckle during everyday activities. When an ACL is torn, it is generally replaced with a graft made from a tendon. Grafts can come from the patient (autograft) or from a cadaver (allograft).
Active patient participation in rehabilitation after surgery is important to a successful rehabilitation. Dr. Cohen and his team are careful to monitor a patient’s health and activity levels both before and after the surgery to reduce the risk of complications. Dr. Cohen utilizes the latest in technology to do this. He has partnered with Prescribe FIT to optimize his patients preoperatively and empower his patients with a simple and effective way to lower their risk of complications from surgery. In addition, he utilizes the Recupe sensor from Plethy to monitor compliance with home exercise programs and range of motion recovery.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you think you may have an ACL injury, schedule a personal consultation with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Cohen. Dr. Cohen is a well-trained surgeon who has treated over 100,000 patients worldwide and offers a customized approach to your orthopedic care. He has extensive experience with ACL injuries. Call or email his office today.
