▲The MRI image shows that Mr. Zhang's sports injury caused a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee (arrow in the picture).

(Photo provided by Zhan Yisheng)

Text / Zhan Yisheng

56-year-old Mr. Zhang has loved basketball since he was a child. Although he is a little older, his skills and skills are not inferior to young people.

Unfortunately, he was seriously injured while grabbing a rebound. At that moment, he felt a "snap" in his left knee, followed by severe pain and swelling.

After half a year of rehabilitation treatment, I still feel pain, and my left knee and thigh muscles are atrophied and I can't run and jump normally.

He came to the hospital and was diagnosed with a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee combined with severe rupture of the lateral meniscus.

After undergoing minimally invasive reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and suture of the meniscus, coupled with the care and training of the rehabilitation and medical team, he returned to the court after 9 months and regained the fun of sports. More importantly, his skills are still healthy.

Please read on...

The cruciate ligament is the most important ligament in the knee joint, responsible for maintaining the stability of the knee joint.

Cruciate ligament ruptures often occur in sports injuries and traffic accidents.

At the moment of injury, some patients will feel a popping sound in the knee, followed by pain and swelling. When walking or going up and down stairs, the joints will feel unstable, and they may even be unable to step on the ground with weight.

The treatment of cruciate ligament rupture includes conservative treatment and ligament reconstruction surgery.

For patients with low daily activity requirements, partial rupture of ligaments and less severe knee joint stability, a good prognosis can be achieved through conservative treatment and rehabilitation.

Conversely, for patients with high requirements for knee mobility and joint stability, or for patients with other structural injuries of the joint, ligament reconstruction surgery is recommended.

If the elderly had good exercise habits before the injury, ligament reconstruction surgery is a good option.

Can play basketball again 9 months after surgery

With the advancement of technology, ligament reconstruction surgery no longer needs to make a large wound on the knee, but only needs a few small wounds, and the operation can be completed with the assistance of an arthroscope.

Most patients can get out of bed and walk after the operation. It is recommended to wear the knee joint movable protective brace for 6 weeks, gradually increase the angle of movement of the brace, and strengthen the thigh muscles.

Jogging and swimming can be performed 6 months after the operation; basketball and football can be played 9 months after the operation.

Cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery is a well-established, predictable, and prognostic modality that can achieve significant functional improvements even in elderly patients.

For active seniors, a ruptured cruciate ligament should not be a reason to permanently retire from the sport.

Through the good surgical technique of the doctor, as well as the careful protection and active rehabilitation after the operation, I believe that he can continue to gallop on the sports field in the near future.

(The author is the vice president of Keelung Chang Gung Hospital and attending physician of the Department of Orthopedics)

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• sports injury

• knee joint

• health care

• cruciate ligament rupture

• Health Net - Bones

• swollen knees

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