Torn ACL Specialist
J. Michael Bennett, MD, PA
Orthopaedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist located in Sugar Land, TX & Houston, TX
When you play football, tennis, or other sports that require you to stop quickly or switch directions often, you can easily tear your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in your knee. If you don’t have this treated promptly, you might end up having chronic pain that prevents you from doing your regular activities. J. Michael Bennett, MD, PA offers treatment for patients in Houston and Sugar Land, Texas who have a torn ACL.
Torn ACL Q & A
What are the symptoms of a torn ACL?
When you tear your ACL, one of the first symptoms you’ll experience is a popping sound or feeling in your knee. After this, you’ll usually have the following symptoms:
- Pain that stops you from participating in your usual athletic activities
- Swelling that usually occurs shortly after you tear your ACL
- Limited flexibility in the affected knee
- Instability in the affected knee when you try to put weight on it
What causes a torn ACL?
Your ACL is the ligament that joins your shinbone and thighbone together. Its main purpose is to give your knee joint stability, which helps you move it smoothly. When you tear this ligament, you might end up with a partial or complete tear. This can happen if you’re doing an activity that causes you to come to a sudden stop or turn in a different direction frequently. You can also get a torn ACL if you jump and land on your feet wrong or if you have trauma to your knee.
What treatment options are available for a torn ACL?
Dr. Bennett will discuss nonsurgical treatment options with you before considering surgery. Nonsurgical options include resting your knee, putting ice on it, wearing a compression wrap on it, and propping it up on a pillow. Dr. Bennett might also recommend undergoing rehabilitative therapy to strengthen your knee and improve your range of motion. You might also need to wear a brace on your knee for more stability, depending on how severe your injury is.
When do I need surgery for a torn ACL?
Dr. Bennett performs both primary and revision ACLs. He does a primary procedure the first time you tear your ACL. Revision ACLs are for patients who have had surgery before for a torn ACL without success. Dr. Bennett might recommend surgery if your injury is severe and isn’t responding to nonsurgical treatments, especially if you’ve injured more than one ligament in your knee. This type of surgery, known as ACL reconstruction, involves removing your damaged ACL and putting a strong tendon in its place to provide your knee with improved stability.
If you need treatment for a torn ACL, please contact J. Michael Bennett, MD, PA to schedule an appointment.
Medical Insurance Plans Accepted
At Dr. Bennett's office, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office and ask for Sarah if you do not see your insurance provider listed.