Knee ligament injuries can be devastating injuries for a young athlete.
Unfortunately, the fact is, that the worst may be yet to come.
The success of surgery is generally good, although not perfect.
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Most athletes are able to return to sports activities after surgical reconstruction.
The condition causes symptoms of pain, swelling, and deformity of the joint.
Over time, the condition may worsen to a point that knee replacement may become an option.
As mentioned, knee arthritis is typically a condition of aging.
Most people with arthritis are in their 60s or older.
There are some risk factors for developing arthritis that can make the condition occur earlier in life.
The exact cause of the arthritis is not completely understood, but it is likely a few different problems.
First, the initial injury can damage joint cartilage in a way that cannot be seen.
However, cartilage has little ability to repair itself, and the damage can become more apparent over time.
Second, the mechanics of the knee may change after reconstructive surgery.
This is a subject of a lot of research investigating methods to lower the likelihood of ACL injury.
There are promising results from some of these methods, but no prevention program will eliminate all ACL tears.
Surgical reconstruction is felt to be a good method to prevent further damage to the joint.
Every time the knee gives out, there is a risk of further cartilage damage in the joint.
Therefore, many surgeons advise ACL surgery to prevent further damage in the knee.
Recovery from these injuries may require surgery and prolong rehab efforts.
Future research is aimed at modifying the risk of developing arthritis and preventing ligament injuries from occurring at all.
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