Cruciate ligament surgery is a surgical procedure in which the damaged cruciate ligament in the knee is reconstructed. The operation is performed by a qualified surgeon who is trained in this type of surgery.
A cruciate ligament surgery involves rebuilding a damaged ligament using the patient’s own tissue or tissue from other sources, such as tendons or personal tissue. These tissues are inserted into the knee and well fixed using a special fixation device.
The method of performing the cruciate ligament operation differs from one surgeon to another, but in general, the operation is performed under general anesthesia, and a hole is made in the skin through a small incision in the knee, and the necessary arthroscopy and surgical tools are inserted into the knee, and the damaged cruciate ligament is removed. The new ligament is built using the appropriate tissues and is well fixed.
Cruciate ligament surgery usually takes between one and a half to two hours, and the patient may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. After the surgery, the patient needs a period of rehabilitation and exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee and improve flexibility, in order to reduce pain and speed up the recovery process.
Techniques used in cruciate ligament surgery
There are several different techniques that can be used in cruciate ligament reconstruction, mainly based on the different type of surgery and the surgical practices used in the hospital. Here are some common techniques used in cruciate ligament surgery:
1- Conventional surgery: the damaged cruciate ligament is removed and the ligament is reconstructed using tissue from the patient’s own body or from other sources, such as tendons or personal tissue. These tissues are inserted into the knee and well fixed using a special fixation device.
2- Endoscopic surgery: in which the procedure is done by using small tools and binoculars to perform the operation through a small hole in the knee, which reduces the size of the wound and speeds up the recovery process.
3- Laser surgery: in which laser energy is used to remove damaged tissues and rebuild the cruciate ligament, and this process is characterized by accuracy and high effectiveness.
4- Robotic surgery: in which robots are used to perform the operation with high accuracy and reduce surgeon error.
The patient should consult the attending physician to determine the appropriate technique for his health condition and type of injury, and to discuss the potential benefits and risks of each technique.
Objectives of endoscopic cruciate ligament surgery
There is more than one side that the joint is affected by when it suffers a cut in this ligament, which is what the cruciate ligament operation seeks to adjust to return it to what is normal for it. Therefore, the aims of this process can be summarized in each of the following:
- Return the knee joint to the state of stability that it is supposed to be in naturally.
- Restore the state of balance in which the knee joint must remain during movement, which is lost after the cruciate ligament is cut.
- Making the knee joint able to perform all the movements that it is naturally capable of.
Duration of arthroscopic cruciate ligament surgery
The duration of arthroscopic cruciate ligament surgery depends on several factors, including the complexity of the case, the type of injury, and the experience of the surgeon. Generally, the procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours, but it may take longer if there are other tears that need to be repaired.
After the procedure, the patient may be suspended in the hospital for a short period for observation and to allow for initial recovery. Complete recovery time depends on many factors, including the patient’s health, lifestyle, and adherence to a physical therapy program. Full recovery after arthroscopic cruciate ligament surgery usually takes 6 to 9 months.
However, doctors and medical advice should be consulted to evaluate each individual’s condition individually and determine the expected duration of recovery based on his or her circumstances.
Recovery after arthroscopic cruciate ligament surgery
The patient can initially return to his home on the same day of the operation or the day after it at the latest, and walk with the help of crutches.. Then he undergoes a rehabilitation period that lasts between 6 and 9 months at least, aiming to restore the normal range of motion of the knee joint, In addition to strengthening the front and back muscles of the thigh area as well as the muscles around the knee, in addition to performing balance exercises.
There is more than one thing that is referred to after the operation to reduce the recovery period and recovery, and these things include all of the following:
- The patient is allowed to bend and straighten his knee, unless there is a specific injury to the cartilage tissue associated with the cruciate ligament problem and requires an operation to suture this cartilage; Where it is required here to adhere to some restrictions when the movement of the knee joint.
- In the event that the injury is in the anterior cruciate ligament only, then the range of motion is allowed for the patient from the first day after the operation, and here no splint is required.
- Sometimes, the doctor may inject the new bandage that was placed in place of the old one using some of the blood extracted from the patient himself.
- It is necessary for the patient to use the crutch to perform all his movements during this period. This is to avoid any excessive pressure on the knee joint, which may cause a weakening of the degree of success of the operation.
- To reduce the degree of swelling of the joint, it is very useful to make ice packs. They are very effective in that use.
- Make the knee joint at a slightly elevated level, almost continuously.
- Make sure to change the bandage placed in the joint area, according to the doctor’s instructions.
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Recovery periods after cruciate ligament reconstruction
According to the statistics that have been made on a large number of patients who underwent this procedure, there are things that happen in most cases, and they were divided according to each period in which each of them occurs as follows:
- After the end of the first week: the doctor removes the bandages, in addition to removing those surgical sutures that were used to close the wound if the wound has completely healed
- After the end of the second week: The patient is directed by the doctor to do some simple physical therapy exercises, which include strengthening the muscles, such as a stability exercise to tighten the front muscle, and bending and straightening the knee completely.
- After the first two months: the patient has achieved full range of motion in the joint, the swelling is gone, and he is able to go into the swimming pool.
- After the end of the first three months: he can run in a straight line, and begins to restore the balance of the knee movement.
- After the end of the first six months: Begins to do heavier exercises.
- After the end of the first (8-9) months: He will have achieved full recovery and will be able to return to practicing sports again.
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With this, we have finished our discussion of the cruciate ligament operation. We started the article by talking about the most important goals of this procedure, then we moved on to explain some of the means that help reduce the length of the period required for recovery from it, then we ended our conversation by explaining what takes place during the period of recovery from the cruciate ligament restoration at intermittent intervals.
