Ligament Reconstruction Los Angeles
By Steven Meier
As one of the primary structures for stabilizing the joints in the body, ligaments are an essential part of the knee. Ligaments are made up of tough, fibrous tissue. In the knee they also work to hold the shin and thigh bones together. The four primary ligaments in the knee are called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL).
Due to the amount of the weight the knee bears during physical activity, the knee is among the most commonly injured joints in the human body. Those who play sports commonly experience ligament injuries and often need ligament reconstruction. Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven Meier is an expert in this procedure. To find out more about ligament reconstruction in Los Angeles, call Meier Orthopedic Sports and Regenerative Medicine today at (310) 777-7845.
ACL Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament, also known as ACL, is one of the most frequently torn or damaged knee ligaments. Common causes for damage to the ACL are awkward landings, impacts to the knee, and twisting the knee.
ACL reconstruction works by replacing a torn or damaged ACL with a graft of new tissue. Two types of grafts can be used. These are called allografts and autografts. An allograft is a graft that comes from an outside donor, such as a cadaver. An autograft is a graft that comes from the patient’s own body.
After the graft is prepared, the doctor will then enter the knee arthroscopically. Dr. Meier will remove the existing anterior cruciate ligament and attach the new graft using surgical screws or some similar device to fix the graft in place and let it grow.
For the next several weeks, the patient will need to wear a brace and possibly use crutches to protect the knee. Patients are often instructed to flex the knee after surgery in order to maintain a wide range of motion.
Contact Meier Orthopedic Sports and Regenerative Medicine to learn more about ligament reconstruction in Los Angeles.
Steven Meier
Dr. Steven Meier is a renowned board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in regenerative sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Meier believes in treating each patient individually according to their needs.