ACL Knee Surgery in Raleigh, NC
What is an ACL tear?
Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major ligaments between your thigh bone and shin bone, which helps keep your knee stable. ACL injuries are common among athletes but can happen to anyone. An ACL tear is most commonly the result of a sudden change in direction or quickly stopping after running or sprinting.
Dr. David Dare is a sports medicine specialist who focuses on injuries affecting the knee joint. Under his care, you can find relief for your ACL knee pain and find a treatment plan that will get you back to your sport and regular activities as soon as possible.
What causes an ACL tear?
An ACL tear usually is caused by one of the below actions:
- Suddenly stopping
- Pivoting with the ball of your foot
- Landing incorrectly from a jump
- Quickly changing directions
- A direct blow to the knee or leg, such as in football tackling or a baseball slide
While an ACL injury can happen to anyone, it’s most common among athletes who are involved in one of the following sports:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
- Baseball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
What are the symptoms of an ACL tear?
Visit Dr. Dare in Raleigh, North Carolina for a full assessment of your knee injury if you experience any of the following ACL injury symptoms:
- Knee “giving out” when bearing weight on it or walking
- Inability to walk
- Popping sound or sensation during the injury
- Immediate knee swelling after an injury
- Decreased range of knee motion
How is an ACL tear diagnosed?
Dr. Dare understands the importance of getting to know his patients prior to recommending treatment or surgery. During your consultation, he will spend time thoroughly going through your medical history and symptoms as well as conducting a comprehensive physical exam. Often, Dr. Dare is able to diagnose an ACL tear using these methods alone. However, to rule out other conditions and to measure the severity of your ACL tear, he may recommend undergoing an imaging test as well. This may include:
- X-rays
- MRI scans
How is an ACL tear treated?
A large majority of ACL ruptures require surgery to maximize future function and knee stability. There are rare cases, though, when a particular patient’s symptoms or lifestyle do not justify surgical intervention. Non-operative treatment for ACL injuries would include:
- Rest
- Activity level and lifestyle modifications
- Heat/ice therapy
- Physical therapy
- Exercise therapy
In most cases, however, an ACL tear requires surgery to reconstruct the ACL and maximize function and knee stability. Dr. Dare is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in offering patients minimally-invasive knee repair options using arthroscopic knee surgery.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you are experiencing symptoms of an ACL tear, consult an orthopedic knee specialist who can help relieve your pain and restore knee function. Dr. David Dare is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and knee surgery. His primary goal is to develop an effective treatment plan using the least invasive techniques to relieve your knee pain, restore function, and get you back to feeling your best. Call 919.781.5600 or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dare today.
