Reference Library: ACL ReconstructionACL ReconstructionActive individuals, recreational or professional athletes who sustain an ACL injury find it difficult to jump, cut or pivot without instability. Continued giving-way episodes will lead to meniscal and cartilage damage and ultimately, arthritis. In today's society, getting back to the playing field or back to work sooner and faster is of paramount importance. Using better and stronger fixation devices, individuals undergoing ACL reconstructions can return to normal activity and sports within 4-9 months.Hamstrings techniques of old used to have poor results due to poor fixation and stretch of the graft. The traditional methods of bone-tendon-bone autografts lead to increased quadriceps atrophy, patella tendonitis and potential patella fracture. Currently at Southwest Sports Medicine our surgical technique of choice is Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using a Tibialis Allograft (anterior or posterior) and Arthrotek guides (Howell guide) and Arthotek fixation with the EZ Loc on the femur and the Washer Loc on the tibia (see links below). This newer technique using the above referenced instruments and fixation devices have resolved these issues of the past and allow for the quickest rehabilitation, the strongest grafts and the most stable reconstructed knees, resulting in unsurpassed function after ACL reconstructive surgery. |
