Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

Understanding Knee Conditions and Available Treatments

ACL Tear Treatment Near You in Hoover and Birmingham, Serving Central Alabama

The knees are among the most important joints for movement, but they are also among the most vulnerable to injury. When a ligament in the knee pulls loose, patients can experience a sudden, debilitating loss of stability that impairs their ability to walk, stand, and perform everyday tasks.

Patients who have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear can find less pain, more living, at Southlake Orthopaedics. We are a multi-specialty practice located in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, Alabama, providing complete orthopedic care for all types of sports injuries. Learn more about ACL tear treatment available near you in central Alabama.

Key Takeaways

An ACL tear is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, which connects the thigh bone to the shin and stabilizes the knee.
Symptoms of an ACL tear include a sudden pop followed by pain, swelling, and instability or a feeling that the knee is going to give out.
ACL tears can be treated conservatively or surgically, depending on the injury’s severity and the patient’s recovery goals.
Southlake Orthopaedics provides comprehensive orthopedic care near you in central Alabama, to help you experience less pain, more living.

What Is an ACL Tear?

An ACL tear is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament. The ACL is one of the four ligaments that hold the knee together. It connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone), crossing over the front of the knee at a diagonal to firmly lock the bones in place. This configuration prevents the knee from bending or rotating beyond its natural range. An ACL tear occurs when the ligament is ripped or pulled loose from the bone. Injuries are graded based on severity:

Grade one: The ACL is stretched but not torn.
Grade two: The ACL is partially torn or loosened.
Grade three: The ACL is completely severed.

What Are ACL Tear Symptoms?

The first sign of an ACL tear is usually a popping sound or sensation in the knee. Afterward, some people feel only minor discomfort. Others experience intense symptoms in and around the injured knee. Symptoms may include:

Swelling
Warmth
Pain, especially when the knee supports weight
Weakness
Feeling as if the knee will give out
Reduced range of motion

Whether it hurts or not, people should always contact a healthcare provider after injuring a knee. ACL tears can be serious without causing pain.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of ACL Tears?

ACL tears occur when the knee is subject to a strong force that bends or rotates it beyond its normal range of movement. Anything that puts too much force on the knee may result in an ACL tear. Common causes include:

Sports injuries, especially sudden changes in direction or landing from a jump
Vehicle accidents
Falls

Athletes are the most likely demographic to suffer an ACL tear. It’s especially common in athletes who participate in volleyball, soccer, basketball, and other sports that involve sudden pivots, starts, and stops. While most common in athletes, anyone can experience a tear, including non-athletes. Experts estimate that more than 200,000 people in the U.S. tear an ACL each year.

How Are ACL Tears Diagnosed?

Like many other types of sports injuries, ACL tears are usually obvious. Physicians can identify the injury based on the patient’s description of its cause and symptoms. Instead of identifying the injury, the ACL tear diagnosis is focused on locating the tear and determining its severity.

The diagnostic process begins with a physical examination. The physician will compare the shape and structure of the injured knee with those of the healthy knee to evaluate the extent of the damage. They will then request medical imaging. X-rays help rule out bone fractures, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a clear view of the ACL to assess the severity of the tear. This information helps the physician plan the best treatment approach.

What Are the Treatment Options for ACL Tears?

ACL tear treatment depends on the injury’s severity and the patient’s goals for treatment. Conservative care may be an option for mild tears, requiring up to three months of rest and physical therapy. The physician may also recommend a knee brace or other orthotic to stabilize the knee while it heals. Nonsurgical treatments are most effective in the following situations:

Patients with partial tears and no symptoms of instability
Patients with complete tears and no symptoms of instability
Patients who are willing to give up high-demand sports
Patients who don’t do heavy manual work

If the patient’s knee is unstable or if they want to resume demanding sports, surgery is required. Surgical treatment for ACL tears involves removing the damaged ligament and replacing it with a tendon graft. Grafts have a higher success rate than sutures or staples, reducing the likelihood that the ACL will tear again. Orthobiologic injections may be used to promote healing and accelerate recovery after surgery.

Meet Our Team

Southlake Orthopaedics is a multi-specialty practice that offers complete sports medicine treatment and orthopedic care, supporting patients at every stage from diagnosis through surgery and rehabilitation. Our experienced team draws on knowledge across multiple medical specialties to treat patients comprehensively. Meet our physicians below:

Michael Blum F., M.D.

George Robert Booker, M.D.

Michael T. Ellerbusch, M.D.

Richard L. “Beau” Grantier, M.D

Jonathan Isbell, M.D.

Dewey H. Jones, M.D.

Find Treatment for ACL Tears Near You in Alabama

When a sudden injury interrupts your sports career, get back on your feet with Southlake Orthopaedics. We help patients find less pain, more living, through complete orthopedic and sports medicine care. Contact us to learn more about ACL tear diagnosis and treatment or to schedule an appointment near you in Hoover or Birmingham-Grandview, AL.

FAQs About ACL Tears

Who is at risk of an ACL tear?

ACL tears are most common in athletes, especially in sports that require sudden pivots, stops, or jumps. Examples include volleyball, basketball, soccer, and football. However, anyone can experience an ACL tear, regardless of their lifestyle. Vehicle accidents and falls are also common causes.

Is surgery required for ACL tears?

Whether you need surgery depends on the severity of your injury and your recovery goals. If your ACL tear is minor and you don’t care about sports participation, conservative care may be enough to bring you back to normal. If you want to resume high-demand sports, however, surgery is necessary to ensure your knee’s long-term stability.

Why is physical therapy important for ACL treatment?

Physical therapy uses specific exercises and stretches to improve your strength and flexibility. During recovery, it helps prevent muscle loss while improving knee stability. It also teaches you new ways to move your knee without overextending it, helping you avoid reinjury.

Can I have an ACL tear again after treatment?

Once you have experienced an ACL tear, you are at heightened risk of a second injury. ACL tears treated surgically have a lower risk of recurrence than those treated conservatively.

How can ACL tears be prevented?

You cannot always prevent an ACL tear. You can, however, reduce your risk of injury by taking the following safety measures during sports participation:

Wearing protective equipment
Taking breaks when you feel pain
Stretching and warming up before physical activity
Cooling down and stretching after physical activity
Strengthening the knees before an intense sports season