Do Knee Injuries Always Involve ACL Repair Washington DC?

Knee injuries are the absolute worst. At best, they mean being a little careful about the amount of walking or moving that is done for a few days, and at worst, it can result in the need for surgery and months of recovery time. Either option is an inconvenience for patients, making it necessary to carefully consider all options and ensure that the treatment that is received is not only quality - but the right option for your particular injury.

ACL Repair Washington DC: What is it?

No matter what the injury to the knee is, it is important to get the opinion of a medical professional. In some cases, a simple evaluation is the only thing that is necessary, but in order instances, it will be necessary to get an X-ray or an MRI completed in order to assess the true extent of the damage. There are many tests that can be done in order to assess the status and health of the knee and its muscles and ligaments, so getting a correct diagnosis is important. Qualified and trusted specialists that will be more than happy to assist you throughout this process as well as the resulting treatment methods can be found by visiting sites like http://www.medstarwashington.org/.

ACL repair is necessary when the ligaments within the knee are sprained to the point of tearing either partially or completely. There are three “grades” of these sprains, with a 1 featuring mild damage and a 3 resulting in a complete tear of the ligaments, leaving the knee joint completely unstable. When repairs are done, the ligament is completely reconstructed using a tissue graft in order to provide a surface for the new ligament to grow upon.

ACL Repair Washington DC Procedures

Small incisions will be made on either side of the knee. These incisions are often done in a less invasive surgery technique so that patients will have a shorter recovery time, get out of the hospital sooner, and can go back to doing the activities that they love. The surgery will not be done immediately after the injury in order to give the area time to begin healing - the inflammation of the muscles can decrease, the area can be used sparingly before the surgery and the chance for scarring will decrease, ensuring that surgery patients will have a better chance for regaining full use of the knee after ACL repair Washington DC has been completed.