ACL Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Introduction to ACL Injury

What is an ACL Injury?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial component of knee stability, playing a key role in movement and weight-bearing activities. An ACL injury is one of the most common and serious knee injuries, often occurring due to sudden movements, high-impact sports, or accidents. This also occurs when this ligament is stretched, partially torn, or completely ruptured due to sudden stress or impact. It can lead to pain, swelling, instability, and restricted mobility, significantly affecting daily life and physical performance.

Common Causes of ACL Injuries

• Sudden stops or changes in direction while running will lead to ACL damage
• Sports like football, basketball, and soccer players have a high risk of facing this trouble.
• Landing improperly from a jump.
• Direct injury or impact to the knee, which is common in accidents or sports.
• Weak muscles or poor knee stability.

Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment

If you are feeling a sharp pain in the knee, don’t ignore it. Ignoring ACL damage can lead to long-term knee instability, making daily activities difficult and increasing the risk of arthritis. Seeking proper medical assistance can prevent complications in the future and speed up recovery.

Signs and Symptoms of an ACL Tear

Common Symptoms of ACL Injury

A torn cruciate ligament presents the following ACL signs and symptoms:

• Sudden, sharp pain in the knee.
• A popping sound at the time of injury.
• Immediate swelling that worsens over hours.
• Difficulty in walking due to the instability in the knee.
• Limited range of motion and difficulty bending or straightening the leg.

The above mentioned are the common symptoms of ruptured ACL.

How to Differentiate Between a Sprain and a Full Rupture?

• A sprain may cause mild pain in the joints but does not lead to complete instability, while a full rupture results in severe knee instability, often requiring medical intervention.

Diagnosing an ACL Injury

How is an ACL Injury Diagnosed?

Doctors use a combination of physical examination and imaging tests for an ACL injury diagnosis:

• Physical Tests: The Lachman Test and Pivot-Shift Test are two clinical assessments used to evaluate knee stability, particularly in cases of suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Both tests help healthcare professionals diagnose and assess the severity of knee instability or anterior cruciate tear
• The Lachman Test involves gently lifting the tibia (shinbone) while stabilizing the femur (thigh bone), checking for excessive movement.
• The Pivot-Shift Test assesses the knee’s rotational stability by applying a gentle force to the tibia while flexing the knee.

• MRI Scan: Provides a detailed view of the ACL damage and associated injuries.
• X-ray: Rules out fractures that might have occurred alongside the injury.

Regenerative Medicine for ACL Treatment (Primary Focus)

Can ACL Heal Without Surgery? Regenerative Medicine Solutions

Modern advancements in regenerative medicine offer non-surgical solutions for ACL repair without surgery, promoting natural healing and faster recovery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP therapy uses the patient’s own blood, processed to extract a high concentration of platelets rich in growth factors. These platelets are then injected into the injured ACL, stimulating tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation.

Best Candidates for PRP Therapy:

• Patients with partial ACL tears.
• Athletes looking for a non-surgical recovery option.
• Individuals seeking faster healing with minimal downtime.

Growth Factor Concentrate (GFC) for ACL Repair

GFC therapy is a step ahead of PRP, delivering highly purified growth factors directly to the injured ligament. This speeds up tissue healing, enhances collagen production, and improves ligament strength.

Effectiveness of GFC for ACL Healing:

• Promotes faster ligament repair.
• Effective in reducing pain and swelling.
• Ideal for mild to moderate ACL injuries.

Stem Cell Therapy for ACL Repair

Stem cell therapy harnesses the body’s natural healing ability by injecting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the damaged ACL. These cells help in tissue regeneration and strengthen the ligament over time.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for ACL Healing:

• Regenerates damaged tissue instead of replacing it.
• Reduces pain and inflammation naturally.
• Suitable for patients looking for long-term solutions.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) for ACL Repair

BMAC therapy involves extracting bone marrow from the patient, which is rich in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and growth factors. These components accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote ligament regeneration when injected into the damaged ACL.

Benefits of BMAC for ACL Healing:

• Provides a high concentration of stem cells for natural ligament repair.
• Aids in reducing pain and swelling associated with ACL injuries.
• Enhances healing in partial ACL tears and supports post-surgical recovery.

Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) for ACL strain treatment

SVF therapy is derived from the patient’s adipose (fat) tissue, which contains a rich source of regenerative cells, including stem cells, growth factors, and cytokines. When injected into an injured ACL, SVF promotes collagen synthesis, tissue remodeling, and faster healing.

Effectiveness of SVF for ACL Healing:

• Encourages natural ligament repair without surgery.
• Reduces inflammation and pain, improving mobility.
• Ideal for patients with chronic ACL injuries or degeneration.

Autologous Conditioned Serum (ACS) for ACL muscle tear

ACS therapy is a specialized treatment that uses anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors derived from the patient’s own blood. This serum is injected into the injured ACL, helping to reduce pain, suppress inflammation, and enhance the healing response.

Why ACS is Beneficial for ACL Treatment:

• Effectively controls inflammation, preventing further ligament damage.
• Enhances tissue repair and supports long-term knee stability.
• Suitable for athletes and active individuals looking to recover without surgery.

Autologous Cultured Osteoblasts for ACL Repair

This advanced regenerative treatment involves harvesting osteoblast cells (bone-forming cells) from the patient, culturing them in a laboratory, and then reintroducing them into the ACL injury site. While primarily used for bone regeneration, these cells can strengthen ligament attachments and improve overall joint stability.

Advantages of Autologous Cultured Osteoblast Therapy:

• Supports ligament healing by reinforcing knee joint structures.
• Helps in cases where ligament damage affects surrounding bone tissue.
• Provides a biological alternative to surgical ligament reconstruction.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Alternative ACL Injury Treatments Without Surgery

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation

Physical therapy plays a vital role in ACL strain treatment, focusing on:

• Strengthening quadriceps (front of the thigh) and hamstrings (back of the thigh).
• Restoring knee mobility and flexibility.
• Preventing further injuries through targeted exercises.

Bracing & Immobilization

Using a knee brace helps stabilize the injured ACL, reducing stress on the ligament and supporting recovery.

Lifestyle Modifications

Managing an ACL tear without surgery involves:

• Avoiding high-impact activities like sports.
• Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce knee strain.
• Using proper footwear to support knee alignment.

Surgical Treatment Options (Beyond Regenerative Medicine)

When is Surgery Necessary for ACL Injury?

If a complete ACL rupture causes extreme knee instability, ACL knee surgery might be required.

ACL Reconstruction Surgery

• The torn ACL is replaced using a graft (from the patient’s hamstring, patellar tendon, or a donor). It is typically recommended for severe ACL injuries and athletes. But ACL knee surgery recovery time will be more than other treatments.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

• Arthroscopic ACL surgery uses small incisions for faster recovery. This reduces scarring and, ACL heal time compared to open surgery.

Post-Surgery Recovery & Rehabilitation

• Initial rest and immobilization for healing.
• Gradual return to walking, exercises, and sports over 6-12 months.

Preventing ACL Injuries

How to Reduce the Risk of ACL Tears

Preventive strategies can lower the chances of a cruciate ligament rupture:

• Strength training for leg muscles.
• Flexibility exercises to maintain knee mobility.
• Proper warm-up routines before workouts or sports.
• Wearing knee braces for extra protection.

These are the basic steps for ACL injury prevention

Conclusion

Regenerative medicine offers groundbreaking solutions for ACL injury treatment, providing non-surgical alternatives that harness the body’s natural healing abilities. These innovative regenerative cell treatments are ideal for individuals seeking faster recovery, long-term relief, and improved knee function without the risks of surgery.

At Regencare, we specialize in personalized regenerative treatments, ensuring that every patient receives the most effective care tailored to their condition. If you’re experiencing an ACL injury and want to explore advanced, non-surgical healing options, schedule a consultation with our experts today. Your journey to a stronger, healthier knee begins here.

When Should You See a doctor?

If you experience persistent pain, swelling, or instability after a knee injury, consult an orthopedic specialist at Regencare.

Why Choose Regencare?

At Regencare, we offer personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. We specialize in regenerative medicine, providing cutting-edge non-surgical therapies, including innovative treatments like PRP, GFC therapy, BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate), SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction), autologous conditioned serum, autologous cultured osteoblast and Stem cell therapy for long-term relief. Additionally, our rehabilitation support services include physical therapy and strengthening exercises to promote optimal recovery and wellness.