Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Treatment
Initial treatment for torn ACLs includes rest, ice, elevation and anti-inflammatory medicine, as well as physical therapy to regain full range of motion and increase strength of the knee-surrounding muscles. If the patient has a stable knee, surgery may not be necessary.
For patients who experience ongoing instability and swelling with activity, surgery may be recommended. An anterior cruciate ligament injury can be repaired or reconstructed through arthroscopic surgery. For this minimally invasive procedure, doctors make small incisions around the knee and insert a tiny camera to guide them through surgery.
In ACL reconstruction the tendon is replaced by a healthy tendon from another part of the leg or a donor graft to stabilize the joint. Keck Medicine of USC orthopaedic surgeons are pioneers for many joint preservation and replacement procedures, and have performed thousands of surgeries.