Ligaments are crucial to knee function, stabilizing the joint during movement. When a movement stretches an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) beyond its limits, it can create tears that can cause extreme pain and limit knee function. Dr. Steven Struhl of Shoulders & Knees in NYC, is one of the top ACL tear surgeons in the country, offering treatment and surgery for patients with knee ligament injuries.
The knee joins your upper leg bone (the femur) with the lower leg bone (the tibia) in a joint that’s strong and flexible. Four ligaments hold the two bones in the proper positions relative to one another, and the anterior cruciate ligament, or “ACL,” is one of them. Because of the many forces at work on the knee, ACL injuries arise from a variety of causes. These injuries can include full or partial tears of the ligament itself, separation of the ligament from one of the bones it’s anchored to or a separation that actually takes a piece of the bone away with the ligament.
Causes of ACL Tears
ACL injuries can be sudden and unmistakable. You may have seen an athlete crumple to the ground in full stride and speak later of the telltale “pop” sound the knee made. Symptoms include pain and swelling, a lack of support or your lower leg may move forward in relation to your upper leg.
Depending upon the type and severity of the injury, ACL problems can be treated with physical therapy, braces or surgery. In active individuals, tears are best treated with surgical reconstruction. Significant rehabilitation is required in many cases. We offer treatment for the following types of ACL injuries:
Whether you are a top athlete who needs an ACL tear surgery immediately to get back in the game or a jogger who needs treatment for a knee ligament injury, contact us at Shoulders & Knees. We are available 24 hours a day to take your call and schedule a consultation and exam at our clinic in NYC for ACL tear injuries.
