Other Structures Damaged During a Knee Injury

Although the ACL is the most important stablizing structure of the knee, other anatomical structures are often damaged and may require repair. When a patient only tears their ACL it is most likely beneficial to reconstruct the ligament. However, when the three other major ligaments in the knee (PCL, medial or lateral collateral ligament) are injured the surgical intervention is more vague. If there is an isolated tear, meaning only one ligament is torn, reconstruction is unnecessary (6). A rupture of any of these three ligaments does not result in major instability and giving-way of the knee as in contrast to when the ACL is torn. Instead, with time the injured ligament will heal and stability can be maintained with rehabilitating exercises. When multiple ligaments are torn, it is likely that reconstruction is necessary. However, it is up to the surgeon to determine whether or not a procedure is required.

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Another structure that is often disrupted during knee injury is the meniscus. Meniscal tears occur in approximately 64-77% of ACL injuries and normally cause discomfort and giving-way episodes (7). When a portion of the meniscus is torn, the loose flap becomes wedged between a femoral condyle and the tibia giving the patient a sense of instability. There are two surgical techniques to deal with a torn meniscus. If the tear is peripheral, on either the medial and lateral edges of the knee, a surgeon can suture the meniscus and adequate healing will follow due to sufficient blood supply. However, if the tear is more towards the center of the joint, suturing is not possible and the torn cartilage must be removed. A surgeon simply removes the torn flap with a shaver. A tear in the meniscus can have serious long-term ramifications because it normally acts as a protective cushion between the tibia and fibula. If too much cartilage is lost, bone-to-bone contact is likely and the knee will become arthritic. A large portion of these patients will have extreme discomfort and will eventually need a total knee replacement to return to pain-free activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Home --- Knee Anatomy --- How Knee Injuries Occur --- Gender Differences --- Types of ACL Grafts --- Surgical Procedure
Other Structures Damaged --- Rehab/Recovery --- Prevention