An anterior cruciate ligament tear in the knee is a devastating injury and does result in knee instability in most cases. The current scientific evidence suggests that a reconstruction will restore knee stability but only about two thirds of patients are able to return to their previous activity.
In Dubai many health providers believe with appropriate physiotherapy surgery can be avoided. This may well be true for the copers who can return to their activities without an ACL. But be aware these are only approximately 5% of all injured patients. The other 95% have to either reduce their activities and adjust to their unstable knee or have surgery.
The big dilemma here is that we do not really know what the natural history of a chronic unstable ACL deficient knee is. What we know is that ACL deficient knees are susceptible to meniscus and other knee injuries and this will result in osteoarthritis- sooner or later.
Who does not need surgery?
- Patients with partial tears and no instability
- Patients with complete tears with no instability and low demand sports
- Patients who are willing to give up high demand sports
- Patients who do light work or lead sedentary lifestyles potentially do not require a reconstruction.
So who needs surgery?
- Patients participating in active sports with pivoting and turning movements
- Manual workers
- Patients with significant functional instability
- Patients with a repairable meniscus lesion
- Patients with the so called unhappy triad of ACL tear, meniscus tear and medial collateral ligament injury
If you belong to any of the above groups contact us and make an appointment with an expert fellowship trained surgeon in Orthopedic Sports Medicine with over 20 years over experience.
