What is a Grade III ACL tear?
What is a Grade III ACL tear?
Your diagnosis is a complete (Grade III) tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This injury is a total disruption of the most important stabilizing ligament in the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament is located centrally within the knee, behind the kneecap, making it difficult for the to specifically localize the injury.
What is an ACL injury and how is it treated?
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can be as complicated as the name sounds. It involves the ligament in the middle of the knee which prevents the shin bone from sliding out in front of the thigh bone. An ACL injury is caused by overstretching or tearing the ligament, either partially or completely. 1
How does an ACL tear affect an athlete?
Miho J. Tanaka, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of sports medicine injuries. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL tears) are a common and feared injury for athletes. When an athlete tears their ACL the knee typically feels unstable and may give out when they try to cut or pivot on the leg.
How do you know if you tore your ACL?
On physical examination, the physician can specifically assess the amount of motion present and determine if the ACL is torn. Additionally, evaluation of other structures within the knee is done also, as ACL tears are often found in association with injury to other structures within the knee, such as the cartilage and collateral ligaments.
