Our bodies don’t always work the way we want them to. Especially as we get older, it can be easy to overestimate your body’s ability to function without flaw.
But if you get onto the pickup basketball court without stretching, or go for a long jog without warming up, you run the risk of tearing your ACL.
This injury can put you out of commission for months, and improper treatment will only make it worse. You want the right team to get you on the road to recovery. With the help of the Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, you can get the best ACL reconstruction surgery in Kansas City.
A Clinic of Specialists
KCOA is an orthopedic compact built up of some of the most experienced and highly trained specialists in the area. With clinics in Kansas City, Overland Park, Merriam, Leawood, Belton, Shawnee Mission, Blue Springs, and Prairie Star Parkway, you can get the care you need no matter where you are.
Our specialists treat conditions all over the body, including the knees, shoulders, ankles, and more. It can be difficult to find the right provider to treat your condition, but our orthopedic specialists are trained to prioritize the well-being of the patient at all costs.
We’ll never try to upcharge you or schedule treatments you don’t need.
Identifying an ACL Injury
The ACL—or anterior cruciate ligament—is an important part of the knee’s anatomy. It helps connect the femur and the tibia, so the knee can function as intended. The ACL can be torn in several ways.
You run the risk of tearing the ligament if you’re making jerky, sudden movements while exercising. Improper jumps or fast pivots can easily tear the ACL.
We often recommend seeking orthopedic care if you can identify a singular event that resulted in your existing pain, like a bad fall or a noticeable pop. If the knee swells when this happens and you have trouble bearing weight afterwards, it is especially important to have it evaluated promptly.
You shouldn’t wait it out if you suspect that you may have torn your ACL, as this may exacerbate your condition.
A Reliable Opinion
Of course, we won’t just take your word for it—we’ll identify your cause of pain ourselves during our initial examination. We want to be sure that ACL reconstruction is your best option for recovery.
We’ll ask you questions about how you sustained the injury, what you noticed at the time, and how your knee feels in its current condition.
From there, we will likely complete an X-ray or an MRI to see if we can identify the source of your discomfort. Once we confirm that you’re suffering from a torn ACL, then we will get to work scheduling your ACL reconstruction in Kansas City.
The ACL Reconstruction Process
On the day of your surgery, we will get you checked in and have an IV placed. After a few short meetings with our nurses, surgeon, and anesthesiologist, we will begin the operation. The ACL reconstruction procedure is very complex.
We often will take a graft from other parts of your body, like the hamstring, quadriceps tendon or patellar tendon, to serve as a replacement for your torn ligament. Other times, we will use a graft that was donated from a cadaver as the replacement ligament.
We will anchor this graft to your knee bones with the help of fixation devices, such as screws, anchors or sutures. Before we finish, we will test it for function, and then close the incisions.
Our providers will give you specific post-op instructions. We want to make sure your healing process is uninterrupted after your ACL reconstruction surgery in Kansas City.
Schedule an Appointment With Us
Regardless of the treatment you need, whether it be for the knee or something else entirely, our providers at KCOA can help.
If you’re interested in the idea of scheduling an appointment with our team, we’d urge you to reach out.
You can get started with our online scheduling tool. Answer the provided questions, and we’ll get you scheduled as soon as we can. Give it a look today.