Knee creaks after ACL repair. Is this normal?

June 22nd — admin

I had an ACL repair done about 18 months ago. The knee works fine but it creaks and cracks a lot when I move it. Is this normal?

You may be describing what’s called crepitus. This sound or feeling occurs when the back of the kneecap grates against the bone. This finding is more common before the ACL repair is done rather than afterwards.

Any snaps, clicks, crepitus, or joint sounds should be reported to the surgeon. The same goes for locking or giving way of the knee joint. Crepitus or similar sounds could occur when the extensor mechanism of the quadriceps muscle isn’t working quite right. This can occur when scar tissue forms or if the tendon has been shortened too much.

The doctor will be able to tell the difference between sounds caused by scar tissue and those caused by cartilage rubbing against bone. There may be some treatment that can help you. It’s not a normal sound and should be taken care of before it gets worse.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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I had an ACL-repair about a month ago. I’m getting my motion back nicely but I still can’t do all the things I expected by now. Is this normal?

April 25th — admin

I had an ACL-repair about a month ago. I’m getting my motion back nicely but I still can’t do all the things I expected by now. Is this normal?

Getting knee motion back after surgery is called mechanical recovery. Being able to perform your daily activities or get back to sports is referred to as functional recovery. What you are noticing is the lag between mechanical and functional recovery.

Such a difference is fairly common. There are many possible reasons for this. Regaining motion is just one part of recovery. There’s also muscle strength and joint position sense (proprioception) to consider. Your rehab program will include exercises to help with motion, strength, and proprioception.

Your doctor and your therapist should be able to give you some idea of what to expect over the next weeks to months. They will likely base their predictions on your age, condition before surgery, and compliance with rehab. They also have the advantage of seeing the results of many patients who have come and gone before you.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com. The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Practice may be needed before putting ACL repair to the hop test

December 21st — admin

I am going to have my six-month check-up after an ACL repair. The therapist already told me I’ll be doing a single-legged hop test. This means I’ll hop as far forward as possible on my operated leg. This makes me very nervous. How do I know it won’t snap underneath me?

There are many ways to assess knee function after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)repair. Range of motion, function, and strength are the main tests. The single-legged hop test is an accurate test of power. It’s a good test to compare one side to the other.

The test is done by having the patient hop as far as possible just on one leg. The patient’s arms are fee to use for balance while taking off and landing on that foot. Number of feet hopped is measured and compared to the other side.

At six months post-op you should have no problems completing this test. You should be concerned if your leg is giving out from underneath you during regular walking or other activities. If you’ve followed a standard rehab program you should have stressed the knee like this during your exercise program.

Talk to your therapist about your concerns. Perhaps you aren’t ready for this test and need some more time to progress your exercise program. You can certainly practice hopping under the therapist’s supervision. Most clinics have a pair of parallel bars you can use to hold on to during practice sessions until you feel the confidence you need to complete the test.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Numbness a common result of ACL reconstruction surgery

December 3rd — admin

I’m an exercise leader at the YMCA. Six months ago, I had an ACL repair. Despite a daily workout routine, there’s still some noticeable weakness on that side. I also have a patch of numbness that really bothers me. When will these get better?

Six months after an ACL repair is about the time most people start to see a return to more normal function. Of course, this depends on the patient’s age, overall health, and physical condition.You should be seeing a gradual improvement in strength and motion. If not, you may have left out an important part of the rehab process. A physical therapist can help you sort this out. The numbness is not uncommon. Almost all patients have some amount of numbness. This is because the nerve below the kneecap isn’t in the same place for everyone. There’s great variation in the location of the branches off the main nerve. In order to complete the surgery, doctors must cut through this area. The loss of sensation is most likely going to be permanent. After 18 months, any changes in sensation are probably permanent. This damage doesn’t affect the function of your knee. It’s just annoying to many people.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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