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Contact Ligament Reconstruction
Ligament Reconstruction Surgery
Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to one another, providing critical stability to your joints. When a ligament is severely torn—often during sports, sudden twisting motions, or trauma—it cannot heal on its own. This leads to a sensation of the joint "giving way" or buckling.
Ligament Reconstruction is an advanced surgical procedure designed to replace the torn ligament with a healthy substitute (a graft), restoring the normal mechanics and stability of the joint.
Common Ligament Injuries We Treat
While any joint can suffer ligament damage, the knee is the most commonly affected area, especially among athletes. Dr. Nihar Modi specializes in:
- ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Tears: The most common sports injury, often requiring surgical reconstruction to allow a safe return to cutting and pivoting sports like football or basketball.
- PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) Tears: Often caused by direct impact to the front of the knee, such as in a dashboard injury during a car accident.
- MCL/LCL Injuries: Injuries to the ligaments on the sides of the knee, which are often treated conservatively but may require surgery if completely ruptured alongside other ligaments.
- Multi-Ligament Knee Injuries: Complex cases involving two or more torn ligaments, requiring highly specialized surgical planning [1].
How is the Reconstruction Performed?
Dr. Nihar Modi performs ligament reconstruction using minimally invasive arthroscopy (keyhole surgery). Instead of stitching the torn ends together (which is rarely successful for ligaments like the ACL), a new ligament is created using a graft.
Types of Grafts
- Autograft: Tissue taken from your own body, such as the hamstring tendon, patellar tendon, or quadriceps tendon. This is the gold standard for most active individuals as it poses zero risk of rejection.
- Allograft: Tissue sourced from a donor. This is often used for older patients or complex multi-ligament reconstructions to minimize surgical time and trauma.
The chosen graft is secured into place using specialized bio-absorbable or titanium screws and buttons, acting as a scaffold upon which new ligament tissue will grow over time [2].
Recovery & Return to Sport
Successful ligament reconstruction is a partnership between the surgeon and the patient. While the surgery provides the structural stability, a rigorous, phased physiotherapy program is vital for success.
- 0-4 Weeks: Focus on reducing swelling, regaining full range of motion (especially extension), and activating the quadriceps muscles.
- 1-3 Months: Gradual strengthening exercises and balance training.
- 4-6 Months: Introduction of running, jumping, and sport-specific drills.
- 6-9+ Months: Final objective testing and gradual return to competitive play.
References:
- Kaeding CC, et al. "A prospective randomized comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon or hamstring tendon autografts." American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011.
- Prodromos CC, et al. "A meta-analysis of the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears as a function of gender, sport, and a knee injury-reduction regimen." Arthroscopy. 2007.
