ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Tears

The ACL is a ligament made up of tough bands of tissue that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia).

Most ACL tears are non-contact injuries. It can happen in different ways:

• Land awkwardly from a jump
• Change direction suddenly, twisting your knee
• Impact to the knee during a collision with someone else while playing sports

Along with an ACL tear, there may also be injuries to other parts of the knee such as other ligaments, cartilage and/or meniscus.

You may hear or feel a pop sensation in your knee. Other symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling that starts immediately to a few hours after the injury, and lasts for several weeks
• Loss of knee range of motion
• Difficulty walking

Full ACL tears do not heal well on their own

Initial acute management includes rest, ice, compression and elevation. Subsequent conservative management such as physiotherapy will aim to reduce pain, improve range of motion/flexibility, strength and balance/control.

If you are active, especially if you will like to return to sporting activities, ACL reconstruction is recommended. The procedure is done through keyhole incisions, and other concomitant injuries such as meniscus or cartilage tears can be addressed at the same time.

You should visit an ACL tear specialist in Singapore as soon as possible. They will have a discussion about your medical history, and carry out a range of tests including movement assessments.

MRI is usually needed for further assessment.

Early assessment and appropriate treatment of the condition will give you the best chance of a quick recovery. Contact us to make an appointment with our ACL Tear Specialist Singapore, Dr Dennis Ng to get effective and specialised care for your ACL tear.