Ligaments, the tough yet flexible tissues in our body, are not spoken about much. They connect two bones and hold joints together, giving much needed strength to us while we stand, walk or run.
One really doesn't know about these till one hears about an accident and its consequences. During falls or accidents these ligaments get hurt. More than the damage to bones, injuries to ligaments, particularly ACL or anterior cruciate ligament, could deprive people of vital strength in their legs.
The ACL connects the femur (thigh) bone to the tibia (leg) bone in the centre of the knee joint. This ligament is commonly torn on twisting the knee during road traffic accidents or sports.
New technique
One of the four major ligaments in the knee, ACL injuries could lead to early arthritis, particular in youth. Traditionally, doctors perform single bundle provides. It provides good results in short term. But in the long term, it gets stretched and the knee does not move normally.
Doctors in two city hospitals – KIMS and Apollo Hospitals -- say that there is a new technique – double bundle ACL reconstruction that would give better strength to ligaments. “An attempt is made to reproduce the normal anatomy of the patient unlike in single bundle reconstruction where in only a part of the ACL is reconstructed,” according to orthopaedic surgeons Dr Sunil Apsingi and Dr Krishna Kiran Eachempati of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS).
Doctors at these hospitals performed this procedure this week. At KIMS, doctors performed six surgeries so far. “The double-bundle ACL is technically more demanding procedure when compared to the single bundle ACL reconstruction,” they said.
“Normal knees stability and function is restored in the new procedure. The knee functions normally once the normal anatomy is restored,” they said.
Apollo workshop
Meanwhile, Prof. Djian Patrick, a renowned surgeon from France and former President of European Arthroscopic Society, conducted a workshop on ‘Arthroscopic double bundle ACL reconstruction' along with Dr K.J. Reddy, at Apollo Hospitals on Friday.
“During diagnosis, this injury is missed in an X-rays. If not treated appropriately, can aggravate into osteoarthritis of the knee, necessitating a major surgery like knee replacement,” Prof. Patrick said.
Dr Patrick is among the first group of doctors who developed the procedure.