Complex Knee Surgeon
Are you an athlete who participates in contact sports? If so, you may be at risk of sustaining a complex knee injury. When multiple ligaments are injured during a traumatic event, there are certain cases when one ligament can heal without the need of knee surgery while another ligament requires reconstruction. Complex knee surgeon, Dr. Mark Getelman provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Los Angeles who have sustained a complex knee injury. Contact Dr. Getelman’s team today!
An Overview on Multiple Knee Ligament Surgery
A multi-ligament knee injury can occur from a collision during athletic activities, an automobile accident or a serious fall from a height. Multi-ligament knee injuries are considered complex, serious injuries that require immediate orthopedic care. In many cases, knee surgery designed to reconstruct multiple ligaments must be performed to restore joint function. Dr. Mark Getelman, Van Nuys, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Los Angeles, California orthopedic knee surgeon, is highly trained and experienced at performing multiple knee ligaments surgery.
There are four ligaments that compose the knee joint. Each ligament has its own function but they all work in unison to stabilize the knee. The knee ligaments include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
- Posterolateral ligament complex (PLC)
When multiple ligaments are injured during the same traumatic event, there are certain cases when one ligament can heal without the need of knee surgery while another ligament requires reconstruction. In other cases, all the torn ligaments must be repaired or reconstructed by Dr. Getelman to restore the joint stability.
Reconstructing a torn ligament requires Dr. Getelman to remove the damaged ligament and reconstruct a new ligament using a graft in the exact location of injury. The graft may be an autograft (harvested from the patient) or an allograft (harvested from a donor). If an injury is severe enough, multiple grafts may be required to complete the knee surgery. Surgical timing is critical to the outcome. Ideally, Dr. Getelman aims to perform all the reconstructions at one surgical setting but based on the swelling and injury pattern more than one surgical procedure may need to be performed. The goal is to restore joint stability, and minimize the development of knee stiffness and scaring during post-operative recovery.
Multi-Ligament Knee Reconstruction Repair Protocols
Bracing and physical therapy will often be required after multiple knee ligament surgery. Knee range of motion and weight bearing may be limited for a certain amount of time. Dr. Getelman will guide patients through recovery using physical therapy based on the injury severity. The post-operative guidelines must be followed as prescribed by Dr. Getelman to help ensure the best outcome following this complex injury.
For additional information on multiple knee ligaments surgery, please contact the Van Nuys and Westlake Village, California orthopedic office of Dr. Mark Getelman, board certified knee surgeon.