Knee Ligament Repair Surgeries

A torn ligament in the knee can be a disabling injury that requires surgery and extensive rehabilitation in order for patients to make a full recovery. Depending upon the severity of the injury, knee ligament repair surgery can be performed as either an outpatient or inpatient procedure, and patients may be placed under either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. Unlike general anesthesia (which renders the patient unconscious), spinal anesthesia causes loss of feeling only from the waist down.

During the knee ligament repair procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions in and around the knee. Through these incisions, the surgeon inserts an arthroscope that is used to reattach the torn ligament to the bone if possible, or else to reconstruct and reattach the ligament using a graft from another part of the knee or elsewhere in the body. In some cases, donor grafts may be used as well. Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon will close the incisions with stitches or surgical staples, and over time the bone will grow around the reattached ligament, completing the ligament repair process.

Types of Knee Ligament Damage

There are four ligaments in the knee that can require surgical repair following a full or partial tear:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) – The ACL runs diagonally through the middle of the knee, connecting the patella (knee bone) to the tibia (shinbone). It helps control the back-and-forth motion of the knee while also providing rotational stability.
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) – The PCL crosses behind the ACL at the back of the knee and also helps control the knee’s back-and-forth motion.
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) – The MCL runs along the inside of the knee, connecting the femur (thighbone) and the tibia. It helps control sideways motion and provides stability to the inner knee.
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) – The LCL sits opposite the MCL on the outside of the knee, and also assists with sideways motion and stability.

Possible Causes of Knee Ligament Damage

Knee ligament damage can result from a wide variety of different causes. Sports-related injuries are common causes of knee ligament damage, as are many types of traumatic accidents. For example, slips, falls, vehicle and pedestrian accidents, construction accidents and assaults are all among the leading causes of knee ligament damage.

Risks of Knee Ligament Repair

Following knee ligament repair surgery, patients will often experience pain, swelling and limited range of motion. With graft surgeries, patients may also experience increased range of motion (which can present additional knee injury risks) as the graft stretches over time. Potentially-serious complications of knee ligament repair surgery include severe bleeding, infections, and blood clots in the legs or lungs.

Knee Ligament Repair Surgery Recovery

Recovering from knee ligament repair surgery usually takes weeks or months, and patients must be careful to avoid activities that could damage the surgically-repaired ligament before it fully heals. Patients should follow their doctors’ advice regarding rest, physical therapy and treatment of the incisions, and they should not drive or return to work until their doctors approve them to do so.

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If you need knee ligament repair surgery following an accident and are concerned about covering your medical bills and other expenses while you recover, contact Injury Funds Now (IFN). Based in Florida, IFN provides non-recourse lawsuit funding. The funds can even be used to cover your co-pay or other medical expenses related to the surgery. Once you complete our online application, you can receive funding in as little as 24 hours. If you were injured in an accident and are represented by an attorney, apply online today.

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