ACL Surgery (Reconstruction) in Pondicherry

ACL injuries can occur in many different ways, even without any contact. Most ACL injuries happen due to high-speed twists or unusual bending/extending of the knee joint beyond the normal range or landing wrong from a jump. If your joint is bent backward, twisted, or bent to either side, there is a high chance that you might have an ACL injury.

ACL injuries mainly occur during sports, especially soccer, skiing, football, and other sports with lots of stop-and-go movements, jumping, or weaving. Other than that, you can even get an ACL injury if you miss a step, especially in old age due to the weakening of the ligament in old age.

The posterior cruciate ligament is situated at the back of the knee and joins the thigh bone to the lower leg bone. PCL injuries are very common in athletes that play baseball, football, or soccer, though they are much less common than ACL tears. Surgery is generally required for Grade 3 and Grade 4 PCL tears. For mild injuries, PCL can heal in 2-3 weeks, however, for severe cases, surgery might be required and the postoperative recovery can take about 4 to 5 weeks.

Immediate first-aid is very important for ACL injuries. Proper first-aid can prevent the worsening of the injury. For ACL injuries, first aid can be provided through the RICE method:

• Rest: Do not put pressure on the injured knee.
• Ice: Ice your injured knee as it can help reduce swelling. Ice the knee for 20 minutes every two hours.
• Compression: Wrap your injured knee with an elastic bandage or compression wraps to limit the swelling.
• Elevation: Keep the knee elevated using proper support such as pillows, etc.

A meniscus is a wedge-shaped fibrocartilage in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the femur and the tibia. It is very important to maintain knee stability. Meniscus tears are common in athletes. They often occur in conjunction with ACL tears. Meniscus tears mostly present with symptoms like:

Similar to ACL tears, meniscus tears can be managed with physiotherapy, but in severe cases, surgical treatment is necessary. Since they often occur with ligament tears, they can be surgically treated at the same time.

• Pain during daily activities, like kneeling and squatting
• Tenderness in the affected region
• Knee instability
• Joint getting stuck in the same position
• Stiffness of the joint
• Inflammation

The necessity of ACL tear surgery depends on the type of injury. Partial tears can be managed using stretching and strengthening exercises. Therefore, for athletic people, surgery is recommended so they can resume their sports.

Long-term instability of the knee can even promote arthritis, so it is crucial to keep up-to-date with strengthening exercises and wear a brace whenever you are moving your joint.

ACL reconstruction surgery is performed by replacing the damaged ligament with a graft made of tendon. Tendons are soft, strong, and flexible tissues that connect muscles to the bones. Knee surgeons typically consider patellar tendon grafts as the best choice of grafts for ACL reconstruction. However, hamstring grafts are preferred for athletes and cadaver grafts for older patients. Grafts allow uninhibited rehabilitation and help return full range of motion to the joint.
For patients who can’t provide a graft tendon for their surgery, the surgeons can even obtain a graft from other people. These are called “allografts.”

ACL reconstruction surgery in Pondicherry costs about 1.2-1.4 lakhs per knee. This cost is not fixed and depends on a lot of variables like:

• A torn meniscus or PCL
• Doctor’s experience
• Choice of graft
• Hospitalization fees
• Insurance coverage

Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgeries are medically necessary as they improve the patients’ lives by getting rid of the pain and improving the knee’s range of motion. As such, most insurance policies fully cover ACL reconstruction. However, the extent of coverage regarding hospitalization and rehabilitation depends on the exact policy terms.

If you are unsure about the terms of your insurance policy, Pristyn Care has a team of insurance experts that help you understand the policy and file a claim based on it. You can also get in touch with us to know the insurance coverage for ACL tear surgery in Pondicherry.

The ACL is the most common ligament in the limbs to suffer an injury. This is because the knee ligaments experience high amounts of strain during jumping, landing, and cutting motions due to the peculiar anatomy of the knees and hips. It is also located in a vulnerable spot and does not receive much support from the surrounding muscles. As a result, when the shin bone moves or bends beyond its permitted range of motion, the ligament prohibits these movements, and that’s what leads to the ACL injury.

ACL repair surgeries are performed by orthopedic doctors or surgeons. Pristyn Care has a team of the best orthopedic surgeons in Pondicherry specializing in knee surgeries, including ACL and meniscus repair. You can easily book a free consultation with them through our website or mobile application.