ACL injury
Ligaments are part of the knee’s stability system and can tear due to injury or an underlying condition. One of the most commonly damaged ligaments in the knee is called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is a major ligament in the knee. It is located inside the knee and connects the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone).
The first thing your doctor will want to rule out is a torn ACL. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are very common. They occur when someone falls or jumps from a height. They usually happen because the person lands on their knees or makes a violent movement with the knee while trying to change their direction in the middle of running. The injury causes knee instability and is felt as excruciating pain after a popping or cracking sound when the ligament is torn.
You might experience knee pain when you walk or run if you have a torn ACL. However, the symptoms tend to go away after a while, making patients neglect their condition, even if they continuously feel their knee is weaker and unstable, sometimes giving in to pressure. If you don’t do anything about it, an ACL injury can progress from a partial to a total tear and then damage your articulation, causing osteoarthritis.
As the problem continues to progress, the meniscus is damaged, too. Thus, ACL injuries can cause a meniscus tear in patients who do not seek medical help. A meniscus tear occurs when the cartilage that covers the inside of the knee joint is damaged. This is one of the most common complications of an ACL injury and a frequent cause of knee replacement surgery in young patients.