Hello, this is Dr. Bradley Raphael with today's health tip. Did you know that the most common treatment for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, better known as an ACL, is to rebuild the torn ligament? Orthopedic surgeons like me can choose from three types of grafts - taking a tendon from the front of the patient's knee, from the back of the patient's thigh or from a cadaver tissue bank - and weaving the new tendon through the knee joint to replace the torn ACL. Patients often ask, "which method is the best" and the truth is, there is only the best method for you.
Your surgeon must take into account your age, your level of sports participation, whether you've sustained previous injuries or suffer from arthritis, as well as providing detailed explanations about each form of ACL repair to determine what option works best for you.
If you or someone you knowsuffers from an ACL injury, the surgeons at Raphael Sports Medicine recommend finding an orthopedist who specializes in athletics, who has performed many ACL repairs, and who can explain each type of graft and can skillfully perform a surgery that is tailored to your needs.
