Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) News and Research

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Preoperative opioid users more likely to be on pain medications after ACL surgery

More than 130,000 Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgeries take place each year with the majority of patients not requiring pain medication after three months post-operatively.

24 Jul 2017

Common surgical techniques for ACL repair offer improved quality of life five years after injury

The most common surgical techniques used to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) offer patients improved quality of life five years after injury, according to research presented today at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

21 Jul 2017

Rat study reveals new treatment approach that could potentially prevent osteoarthritis

Maintaining the supply of a molecule that helps to nourish cartilage prevented osteoarthritis in animal models of the disease, according to a report published in Nature Communications online May 11.

11 May 2017

Researchers highlight how biomarkers after ACL reconstruction may signal severity of PTOA later in life

A majority of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction patients develop a condition known as posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) within 15 years of surgery, which can be debilitating and limit activity. Researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in San Diego are highlighting how a set of biomarkers on the day of surgery may explain why some individuals have worse PTOA than others after two years.

20 Mar 2017

Study finds high level of patient satisfaction after ACL reconstruction

A study at Hospital for Special Surgery finds that most athletic patients who have reconstructive surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are highly satisfied with the procedure and able to return to sports.

14 Mar 2017

Researchers seek to shed light on link between ACL and osteoarthritis

Every year, about 250,000 people in the U.S. sustain injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and about half of these individuals end up having reconstructive surgery.

17 Oct 2016

Predominance of testosterone in males may explain disparate ACL injury rate between men and women

In studies on rats, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists report new evidence that the predominance of the hormone testosterone in males may explain why women are up to 10 times more likely than men to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knees.

20 Sep 2016

Deployed military soldiers three times more likely to suffer non-combat musculoskeletal injuries

Since September 11, 2001, an estimated 60,000 U.S. military service members have been injured in combat during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Nearly 45,000 of all combat injuries are caused by improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs.

2 Jun 2016

New study aims to identify biomarkers linked to cartilage degradation in OA patients

Joint injury can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). In fact, about half of all people who rupture the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knee will develop PTOA within 10-20 years of the injury.

20 May 2016

Minimally invasive approach to ACL surgery reduces recovery time

Kaniya Brown of Accokeek, Maryland, has returned to running after a devastating knee injury. The track star tore her anterior cruciate ligament while playing soccer. ACL tears are common sports injuries that often require surgery, followed by months of rehabilitation. Instead, Kaniya underwent an innovative procedure that repairs the ACL, allowing for quicker recovery and less pain.

9 Mar 2016

Early strength training could help prevent ACL injuries in young women

Young women demonstrate less strength and neuromuscular control after puberty, and this may make them particularly susceptible to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries, according to research presented this week at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in Sacramento, Calif.

18 Feb 2016

Virtual reality simulation for ACL reconstruction

VirtaMed has developed a virtual reality simulation for ACL reconstruction.

From VirtaMed 17 Feb 2016

CHLA researchers to discuss how novel 3-D motion analysis could be used to predict risk for ACL injuries

Children's Hospital Los Angeles expert to discuss how novel 3-D motion analysis can be used as a tool to predict risk for knee injuries.

27 Jan 2016

Graft properties affect knee ligament surgery outcome more than surgical technique

In anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, graft stiffness and pre-strain play a more vital role than the choice of surgical technique, indicates a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The study developed a computational 3D model of the knee joint, which can be used in the prevention of osteoarthritis (OA), specifically OA resulting from trauma.

15 Oct 2015

Younger patients can benefit from ACL surgery

A new study appearing in the April issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS), found that most patients who underwent surgery to repair and rebuild an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, showed significant improvement in physical function at two years, which continued for at least six years following surgery.

7 Apr 2015

New kind of knee surgery provides much needed relief for patients

A new kind of knee surgery is providing much needed relief for patients in the greater Houston area. For many years, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions have been frequently performed to correct instability in the knee, however many patients never return to their pre-injury level of activity following surgery. That is changing, says orthopaedic surgeon Dr. William Hayes, because surgeons are now addressing injuries to the anterolateral ligament (ALL) in the knee as well.

8 Dec 2014

Study finds that majority of athletes return to play after having knee surgery for ACL injury

The majority of athletes included in a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine were able to return to play after having knee surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

25 Sep 2014

Activity level predicts how well patients recover from injuries after treatment

According to a literature review in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, patients' activity level is a strong predictor for how well they will do with certain treatments and how well they recover from injuries after treatment. Patients are encouraged to ask their orthopaedic surgeon if activity level is an important factor in their treatment decision.

23 Jul 2014

Research suggests few risk factors that may point to possibility of ACL re-injury

Re-tearing a repaired knee Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) happens all too frequently, however a recent study being presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting suggests that identification and patient education regarding modifiable risk factors may minimize the chance of a future ACL tear.

11 Jul 2014

Universal neuromuscular training helps avoid ACL sprains and tears

As participation in high-demand sports such as basketball and soccer has increased over the past decade, so has the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in teens and young adults.

9 May 2014