ACL Full Form in Medical Terms: All You Need to Know About This Knee Surgery

ACL injuries are becoming a growing concern among active individuals and athletes. In fact, studies reveal that 68.6 ACL tears occur per 100,000 people in India. This is why it is one of the most common knee injuries in our country.

When this damage becomes severe, surgery is often recommended to restore the knee's stability and function.

Continue reading this article to explore the ACL full form in medical terminology, along with the surgical procedure and potential risks patients should understand before treatment.

What is the ACL Full Form in Medical Terminology? 

ACL full form in medical terms is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. It is basically a strong band of connective tissue in the knee that connects the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia).

The main function of this ligament is to provide stability and prevent the tibia from sliding too far. However, it is one of the most frequently injured ligaments in the knee. Especially for the active individuals or those involved in sports like basketball, soccer and football.

Understanding ACL Surgery Procedure

As you now know the full form of ACL in medical terms, let’s understand the importance of this surgery.

Also known as ACL reconstruction, this procedure is mainly used to repair a torn ACL when it does not have an adequate blood supply to heal on its own.

At the time of this procedure, the surgeon typically removes the damaged ligament and replaces it with a new tendon or graft.

ACL Injury Types                                       

Healthcare providers categorise ACL injury into three different grades. Now that you understand ACL injury full form, discover these 3 categories:

1. Grade 1:  ACL is damaged but still in one piece and holding the knee bones together.
2. Grade 2: ACL is partially torn and loosened.
3. Grade 3: ACL tear completely into two pieces.

Causes of ACL injury

ACL injury is most common among sportspeople under certain specific circumstances. These instances basically include:

1. Slowing down or changing direction while running
2. Pivoting while your foot is firmly planted
3. Awkwardly landing from a jump
4. Suddenly stopping while running
5. Getting a direct blow to the knee due to a collision (e.g. a football tackle)

In fact, research shows that female athletes are 2 to 8 times more likely to tear their ACLs than male athletes.

When is ACL Reconstruction Recommended?

A healthcare provider recommends this ACL reconstruction during the following situations:

1. Feeling or hearing a pop in the knee
2. The knee feels uneasy during daily activities
3. If a person endures severe knee pain
4. Losing the range of the knee's motion
5. Other ligaments also get injured along with the ACL
6. The meniscus is torn, causing huge discomfort

How is ACL Injury Diagnosed?

ACL is a key stabilising ligament in the knee. This is why doctors perform multiple diagnostic procedures to accurately detect the severity of ACL injury before surgery.

Lachman Test

The Lachman test is one of the most reliable methods to determine ACL injury. During this test, a doctor gently pulls the shinbone forward to see if there is excessive movement.

Anterior Drawer Test

The Anterior Drawer Test helps a doctor to check looseness of the knee joint. It is performed with the patient lying on their back with their affected knee bent 90 degrees while their foot is on the ground.

Pivot Shift Test

The Pivot Shift test is used to identify rotational instability due to ACL damage. For this test, doctors apply valgus stress on the knee while internally rotating the tibia and gradually bending the knee to detect unusual joint movement.

Imaging Tests

To have a clear view of the internal injury of the ACL, doctors perform image tests, such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan and X-ray.

Pre-Surgery Precautions for the ACL Reconstruction Surgery

Knowing the ACL full form in medical science is not enough to take proper precautions before the surgery. Therefore, the following section outlines how a patient prepares for ACL surgery:

Pre-Habilitation

Doctors can recommend physiotherapy prior to ACL surgery. The aim is to strengthen the knee and its surrounding muscles, particularly the quadriceps. When a patient goes into surgery with a strong knee, the post-operative outcome can significantly improve.

Medical Clearance

Healthcare providers usually conduct a full-body and pre-anaesthesia check-up ahead of the surgery. This way, they ensure a patient is completely fit to go through an ACL surgery.

Review of Medication

In most cases, doctors take a complete review of the medications patients are taking. Sometimes, blood-thinning drugs like aspirin or dabigatran (Pradaxa) can create severe complications after the surgery.

Restrictions of Diet

Like any other surgery, patients are instructed not to consume any food or water for around 8 hours before starting the ACL surgery.

What is ACL Surgery Procedure?

A surgeon usually replaces an ACL in two different ways. Firstly, they take tissue from a patient’s own body, which is called an autograft. Otherwise, they take it from a deceased donor, known as an allograft or cadaver graft.

Once the graft type is finalised, the procedure typically follows these steps:

1. The doctor will remove the torn ligament with a shaver or other medical instruments.
2. In the case of a patient’s own tissue being used to make a new ACL, the surgeon will make a larger cut. Therefore, the autograft will be removed through this cut.
3. After making the incision, the surgeon creates small tunnels and sockets in the bone to position and secure the new tissue.
4. This new tissue will take the same place as the old Anterior Cruciate Ligament of the patient.
5. The surgeon will attach the new ligament to the bone with screws or other devices to hold it in place.
6. With time, as the ligament heals, the newly attached graft will be refurbished into a new ligament.

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Potential Risks of ACL Surgery

Although ACL surgery is mostly considered a low-risk procedure, certain complications are still possible after the surgery. The common complications patients face after this surgery are:

1. Noticing a blood clot in the leg
2. Ligament damage fails to heal
3. Surgery fails to relieve symptoms
4. Allergic reactions to medicines, such as anaesthesia
5. Difficulties in breathing
6. Damage to a nearby blood vessel
7. Severe knee pain and weakness
8. Stiffness of the knee or loss of range of motion
9. Intense bleeding after the surgery

Recovery Stages of ACL Surgery

To completely heal from an ACL surgery, a patient can usually take 6 to 9 months, depending on their condition. However, sometimes complications can increase the recovery phase for certain scenarios.

To give you a clear understanding of the recovery stage, we have broken it down into 5 stages.

Stage 1 (First 2 Weeks)

The first stage consists of two weeks after the surgery. At this time, the patient should focus on controlling pain and swelling. At this time, crutches or a knee brace will be their constant companion.

Stage 2 (Next 2 to 6 Weeks)

After the next 2 to 6 weeks, the patients slowly restore the mobility of the knee. Now they can gradually bear more weight on their legs and try to wean off crutches. The aim would be to gain full motion of the knee attached to the ACL.

Stage 3 (6 to 4 Months)

The third stage mainly includes 6 weeks to 4 months after building muscle strength. Here, patients will focus on progressive strengthening of the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles. Moreover, balance and proprioception training will start from here.

Stage 4 (Next 4 to 6 Months)

Next, 4 to 6 months after the surgery, the patient may be allowed to begin jogging in a straight line. In fact, they can also start exercising in a more dynamic and sport-specific way while starting to prepare for higher-level activities.

Stage 5 (After 6 Months)

While 6 months have passed, patients are free to return to their usual activities. In most cases, rigorous testing is conducted here to ensure the strength and stability of your knee.

How to Prevent the Risk of ACL Injury?

During sports or other physical activities, you can prevent the risk of ACL with these habits:

1. Properly warm up and stretch before sports or working out.
2. Strengthen thigh, hamstring and hip muscles with exercises like squats and lunges.
3. Practice proper landing and pivoting techniques.
4. Avoid sudden twisting or sharp directional changes.
5. Use proper footwear with good grip and support.
6. Maintain good balance and body control.
7. Do not ignore knee pain or keep it untreated.
8. Always increase workout level gradually, not suddenly.

Final Word

With a precise understanding of ACL full form in medical science, you can realise why knee injuries require your proper attention. In fact, early diagnosis of this injury is the only way to avoid long-term damage.

If ACL surgery becomes necessary, a health insurance plan from Bajaj General Insurance supports you by covering treatment costs, so you can focus fully on recovery and getting back to an active life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does health insurance cover the medication cost for ACL surgery?

Yes, in most cases, comprehensive health insurance policies cover medication costs for ACL surgery. Additionally, they include pre-surgery meds, anaesthesia and post-op prescriptions or rehab drugs. However, the coverage can sometimes depend on your specific policy's terms, waiting periods, co-pays and whether it's an accident or elective case.

Can I receive cashless treatment for ACL surgery?

Yes, you can receive cashless treatment for ACL surgery from the network hospitals if it is covered under your health insurance plan. However, there can be a waiting period of around 2 to 4 years if your surgery is planned. This is why you should verify your policy terms before purchasing a health insurance plan.

Is it possible to cure an ACL injury without any surgery?

Yes, it is possible to cure an ACL injury without surgery if the tear is small. In most cases, it can heal on its own if you are a less active individual. However, for active individuals or sportspersons, surgery is recommended to strengthen the surrounding muscles and improve stability.

Is physiotherapy necessary after ACL surgery?

Yes, after ACL surgery, physiotherapy is not optional. Doctors prescribe this to restore the strength, flexibility and stability of the knee. Moreover, it can prevent re-injury by gradually retraining the knee and surrounding muscles, allowing them to return to daily activities or sports without any risk.

How long do I have to wear a brace after the ACL surgery?

A patient usually needs to wear a post-operative brace for about 4 to 6 weeks after ACL surgery. However, it should be removed while sleeping or during any physiotherapy session. Once the quadriceps muscles can support the knee, doctors will recommend removing the brace.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making any related decisions.