Kylee

by Kylee
(Sydney)

Hi,
I'm 38 and i have had my 2nd ACL tear there is also bruising and impaction fractures. I have now decided to go and get surgery as i am active and also have two children to chase around. I asked my surgeon plenty of questions as i was not sure what to do i was really stressed,one of the questions i asked him if I dont get the surgery will I have problems later on in life. eg: arthritis etc. He told me no I wont it will heal, but after googling on the internet and reading your stories it sounds like I will. Maybe need another surgeon. Any suggestions for a good orthopedic surgeon?

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Kylee

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Jul 13, 2009
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arthritis
by: Bart - SII

ACL injury generally does end up causing some early onset arthritis in the knee - but this is also true of most knee injuries that require surgery. It is important to put that into perspective though - an ACL reconstructed knee will likely end up with arthritis a few years earlier than a knee without ACL injury - and is is suggested in the literature that ACL deficient knees will end up with worn down meniscus and articular cartilage faster than one with an intact ACL.

All of that being said, many people can function without an ACL and they lead productive active lifestyles - others cannot function at a level they are happy with without an ACL.

An ACL deficient knee is not a normal knee from a biomechanical standpoint, and there will be abnormal stresses. It can lead to arthritis over time, but you are probably talking 15-20 years, depending on how active you are.

Bart

Jul 19, 2009
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arthritiiisss
by: Anonymous

everyone gets arthritis sooner or later. i had acl surgery im 21 years old. i have grinding and clackling in both my knees. my elbow. and yeah.. good luck with everything. i recoment taking glucosomine pills and drinking life water.

Sep 12, 2009
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some more info
by: SD

your ACL doesn't heal, but in some cases you can function with a partially torn one. i recently read a medical study where they looked at dead people's knees who had osteo-arthritis. like 25% of the people also apparently had torn acl that that were never diagnosed...
but that was a study of dead people.
i've read that a partial tear, with no substantial instability, and no cartilage damage, is alright to treat with only rehab exercises. it won't be the same as it was before, but it will be okay then. for example, don't expect to have the balancing skills to wear high heals and good arch support is important.
if you tear the cartilage during an injury, that is what leads to arthritis.
a clinically (see you Othopedic surgeon) unstable knee with a partially torn acl is more likely to go through another injury if you are an active person.
people with partially torn acl need to exercise certain muscles to protect their knees from re-injury whether it is unstable or not. and those with unstable knees should consider surgery.