Ligament plasty of the knee
The ligament plasty of the knee is a technique that allows repair of anterior cruciate ligament tear and / or later with a minimally invasive incision. It is recommended for young patients who have suffered an accident, usually sporting, as well as other types.
Benefits of intervention
This technique or set of techniques has been the standard surgical treatment for ligamentous injuries of the knee and is in constant development. Through these techniques, ligament injuries of the patient will be repaired and allow the return to the sporting activity.
Medical-technique description
The injuries to the ligaments of the knee can be treated by arthroscopy of the knee, with minimal incisions. There are several techniques to repair these injuries, depending on the origin of the graft to be used for replacing the torn ligament, and of various systems of fixation of this bone graft to the knee, too. The most common ligaments repaired with these techniques are the anterior and posterior cross. Although most of the intervention is developed with arthroscopic techniques (through two small incisions around the knee), it usually requires an additional incision for the removal of the tendons, a surgical procedure needed to facilitate the graft that replace the broken ligament. The material used for the fixation of these grafts to the bone is biocompatible and does not require removal, unless complications.
The Procedure
The ligamentoplasty knee surgery is performed in the operating theatre, and usually requires the use of a device of ischemia in the thigh. A spinal anesthesia (usually epidural) is employed in these cases, thus achieving a more comfortable postoperative period with less pain than conventional surgery of the knee. The duration of surgery is of about 60 minutes depending on the problem being treated. Before being discharged from the hospital, the patient usually spends the first night there. Afterwards he receives a discharge report with recommendations, treatment and recall appointments to follow.
Preoperative Measures
- Prior assessment at the day clinic, deciding and stating the specific aspects of the surgery and giving an informed consent
- You must provide a comprehensive list of medicines you take regularly (including herbal medicines) at the time of the operation
- Conducting a preoperative evaluation consisting of a blood test, biochemistry, coagulation, chest radiograph and ECG
- Wash the previous night and morning the area to undergo surgery with antiseptic soap. If desired, you can shave the knee for surgery at home the day before the intervention, from mid-thigh to mid leg
- Get two crutches or English canes, needed for some weeks after surgery
- If surgery is scheduled in the morning, you must go to hospital on an empty stomach. If it is afternoon, have an early breakfast and do not take food or drink from 9 am
- Do not wear any metal object during operation (rings, bracelets, earrings, piercing, etc.)
Postoperative care
- Discomfort and swelling are the effects that you can suffer the days after surgery, which will disappear with the medication directed by your surgeon
- Put a compressive elastic bandage, which can be maintained while in bed
- Drains will be removed the day after surgery. In the following days you should wear elastic compression stockings to the thigh, which must be maintained for at least 4 months. In some cases, your surgeon will recommend you to use some kind of stabilizing knee brace
- The movement starts from the first day. The body weight, unless it was expressly counterindicated by your surgeon, is permitted immediately, although we recommend the use of two crutches for supporting the walk.
- Once discharged, you will receive a daily home exercise program
- You must receive thrombo and antibiotic prophylaxis during hospitalization
- After discharge, you must contact us if you have chest pain and shortness of breath, pain, swelling or redness in the arm, sudden pain in the operated shoulder; untreatable by the usual means at the surgical site or fever and chills processes
Also download the Informed Consent from the official website of the SECOT, Sociedad Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología
