Denver Orthopedic Surgeons Treat Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Lacrosse is similar to hockey, where each team aims to have the highest number of goals. Due to this, it involves plenty of repetitive motions and strenuous movements, of which the athletes’ knees bear the most brunt. Thus, one of the most common lacrosse-related injuries is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, which may require treatment from Denver orthopedic surgeons.

To understand the severity of this injury—referred to as a “life-altering injury” by a former physician of the U.S. lacrosse team—players must first understand the knee anatomy. ACL is a major ligament of the knee which is primarily responsible for stabilizing the knee after walking, bending, or climbing. However, in lacrosse, where there are a great deal of turning and planting motions, the ACL becomes highly vulnerable.

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Orthopedic Treatment for a Torn Meniscus

It happened so fast. You were running down the court and all you did was stop. Suddenly, you’re on the floor with a sharp pain in your knee. Unfortunately, you may have torn your meniscus.

The meniscus is a small C-shaped piece of cartilage in your knee that keeps the entire knee stable and prevents your knee bones from grinding against each other. Although quite sturdy, the meniscus can be torn by sudden stops, deep squats, and quick pivots.

A meniscus tear can be classified into three categories: partial, moderate, and severe. Depending on the severity of the tear, an orthopedic surgeon can determine if there is a need for surgery or if the injury can heal by itself.

Common symptoms people begin to feel after tearing their meniscus include pain and swelling. For severe meniscus tears, people report feeling knee instability, manifesting as a popping or locking of the knee, or its suddenly “wobbling” and giving way.

Meniscus tears are often mistaken for ACL tears, another type of knee injury, as both injuries tend to happen at the same time. In some cases, both the meniscus and ACL can be torn by the same action. Thus, people who have suffered a suspected knee injury should be brought to an experienced orthopedic surgeon for accurate diagnosis and immediate treatment.

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