Neuromuscular Center
Cruciate Ligament Injuries
We do not encounter cruciate ligament injuries very often because the cruciate ligaments that hold the knee joint together and enable it to move are very strong tissues.
Therefore, it mostly happens to athletes or occurs due to accident or trauma, usually in the form of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. When rupture/tearing of joint connective tissues occurs especially in tissues that are in constant motion, such as the anterior cruciate ligament, the knee joint cannot perform the forward bending motion. In this case, it is necessary to reconstruct the ruptured connective tissue with cruciate ligament reconstruction operations.
What is Cruciate Ligament?
The cruciate ligaments, which fix the bones forming the knee joint to the surrounding tissues, consist of four main connective tissues: anterior, posterior, middle collateral and lateral collateral.
The cruciate ligaments that hold the knee joint together during its movement are strong flexible tissues that allow the joint to open and flex and return after performing the forward movement.
Physical actions based on the back and forth movement of the knee joint such as walking, kneeling, running, climbing are performed by cruciate ligaments.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Anterior cruciate rupture occurs due to increased tension in the knee joint due to sudden movements or as a result of a direct damage to the knee. With the severity of the trauma, the cruciate ligament may be partially injured or completely ruptured. How the treatment will be done is planned according to the degree of injury of the cruciate ligament.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Reconstruction Surgery
The surgical method in anterior cruciate ligament ruptures is the arthroscopic knee surgery technique. It is possible to perform cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery within the scope of closed knee surgeries performed through one or more incisions.
If the cruciate ligaments are not able to be sutured, the connective tissue is reconstructed with a tendon graft taken from another part of the patient.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Since posterior cruciate ligament ruptures are less common than anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, when cruciate ligament injuries and treatments are mentioned, the anterior cruciate ligament is usually considered.
If the posterior cruciate ligament is not completely ruptured, it can heal on its own with rest and physical therapy, or the connective tissue is repaired/reconstructed by surgical operation.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery
The posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery procedure is performed in the same way as the anterior cruciate ligament. Knee arthroscopy is the current surgical approach in cruciate ligament injuries.
Cruciate Ligament Revision Surgery
In people who have had cruciate ligament surgery before, cruciate ligament reconstruction may need to be repeated for any reason. Especially anterior cruciate ligament revision surgery is common.
Revision surgeries are also often performed closed. After the rest period, the recovery period should be supported with physical therapy and rehabilitation applications that will strengthen the cruciate ligaments.