Lower Extremities

ACL/ PCL Reconstruction

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)- Is a ligament that is behind your knee cap and connects your femur (thigh bone) to your tibia (shin) and helps prevent your tibia (shin bone) from moving forward.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)- Is a ligament that is behind your knee cap and connects your femur (thigh bone) to your tibia and helps prevent your tibia (shin bone)from moving backward.
Injury to one or both of these ligaments often causes knee pain, swelling and decreased motion and surgery may be needed to correct the problem.  This injury commonly occurs from a sudden twist of the knee like for example, a fast pivot in football or possibly landing incorrectly from a jump. 

Treatment 
Often the ligament is reconstructed from another tendon or ligament to substitute for the injured one.  Your doctor will most likely discuss the different types of ligament replacements and the success rates for each. 
Your physical therapy will begin soon after surgery and will concentrate on regaining full strength and mobility back in the knee.