When is the Right Time to Have Surgery for an ACL Injury?
February 13, 2024
If you are diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to your knee, what treatments are available? When might surgery be your best option?
There are several factors that determine how severe the injury is. If it is that bad, you may need surgery.
According to Mark A. Slabaugh, M.D., orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with Sports Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, there are partial ACL tears and complete tears. With a partial tear, physical therapy can help. With a complete tear, you'll need to discuss surgery with your doctor.
"That's really individualized for every patient and depends on your age, your activity level and the activities you want to do in the future. Younger athletes and people that want to continue to do pivoting sports, we definitely recommend having your ACL reconstructed. Individuals who have other ligaments or especially the meniscus torn, those are the ones that you really have to do the surgery to protect the meniscus and hopefully prevent arthritis in the future," Dr. Slabaugh said.
With surgery, recovery takes time and you need to go step-by-step to return to full strength, Dr. Slabaugh added.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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