Authors' recommendations: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprains involve stretching, partial tears, or complete rupture of the ACL, resulting in knee instability, pain, swelling, and loss of full knee range of motion (ROM). These injuries are treated by physical therapy and, if severe enough, ACL repair, which entails surgically replacing the ACL with a tendon graft upon which a new ACL may develop. ACL sprains are relatively common, occurring in approximately 200,000 individuals and resulting in approximately 100,000 new ACL repairs annually in the United States. Following ACL repair, patients undergo rehabilitation, which includes ROM, hyperextension, weight-bearing, muscle-strengthening, proprioception, and functional exercises or training directed by a physical therapist. After surgery, patients undergo accelerated rehabilitation protocols that focus on early mobilization and weight bearing. For these protocols, physical therapy begins during the hospital stay, continues on an outpatient basis, and requires knee movement. Therefore, while a plaster cast was used in the past, patients may now be treated with a knee brace that can be removed easily or has adjustable hinges that allow knee movement.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=15600

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2013 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc