Mr. Dat, a 24-year-old man from Dong Nai, suffered multiple ruptures of his cruciate ligaments over the course of several months, leading to loose knee joints and difficulty walking. Five months ago, he initially ruptured his cruciate ligament while playing soccer and was advised to undergo surgery by a local doctor. However, he was afraid and declined the surgery, continuing to live and exercise, ultimately tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
On April 17, Dr. Nguyen Van Luu at the Center for Orthopedics in Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City diagnosed Mr. Dat with tears in both his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. Fortunately, other structures such as cartilage, meniscus, and articular cartilage were not damaged. The doctor recommended reconstructing both ligaments using autologous tendons with the “all in side” technique.
The “all in side” technique involves using a tendon from another part of the body to bridge the broken ends of the ligament, preserving blood vessels and nerve receptors in the ligament root. This minimally invasive technique reduces the risk of infection and helps with quicker recovery post-surgery.
Rehabilitation post-surgery is crucial for successful recovery and restoration of maximum ligament function. Patients must follow a strict physical therapy regimen as directed by the therapist to protect the tendon graft and reduce the risk of re-rupture.
Two days after surgery, Mr. Dat was able to bend and stretch his knee comfortably and walk lightly. Dr. Luu predicts that within two weeks, the patient will have a range of motion of about 100 degrees in his knee. By six months, he can resume exercising at medium intensity, and by nine months, he can engage in light sports activities.
Dr. Luu emphasizes the importance of seeking timely treatment for ligament injuries to prevent complications such as loss of old ligament roots, blood vessels, and nerve receptors. Delayed treatment can lead to additional issues like meniscus tears, articular cartilage damage, and increased risk of osteoarthritis development.