Acl surgery

Sports can be absolutely brutal at times, and sports injuries are an inevitable part of the game. Because of how susceptible athletes are to getting hurt, it’s important to find an experienced orthopedic surgeon who you can call when surgery is required.

Sports medicine has seen tremendous advances over the past decade, and common sports injuries such as torn ACLs or torn rotator cuffs are much easier to repair than in years past. A great orthopedic surgeon can have you back out on the field or court in no time, restoring the peak performance that you had before the injury. Here are three of the most common procedures that stem from sports injuries, and how they help athletes return to their prior form:

  • ACL reconstruction. Perhaps the most infamous sports-related injury, a torn ACL used to be a “death sentence” for high-level athletes. These days, you can come back better then ever after an ACL reconstruction if you find a great orthopedic surgeon. In general, ACL repair uses another tendon to rebuild the damaged ACL mechanism. In basic terms, the injured knee is given a new lease on life, and after a few months of recovery, you’ll be back to playing the game you love.

  • Arthroscopic knee surgery. For just about every other knee-related sports injury, arthroscopic knee surgery is the best way to get back into form. It’s also a great tool for diagnosing knee problems because an orthopedic surgeon can insert a fiber-optic cable into the patient’s knee to address specific needs within the joint. Arthroscopic knee surgery is preferred by many patients because it produces minimal scarring, reduced pain, and a lower risk of infection than open surgery.

  • Shoulder replacement. A perpetual issue for baseball players and quarterbacks, shoulder injuries are the fifth most common injury among high school athletes. In 2006, approximately 7.5 million people went to the doctor’s office for a shoulder problem, including shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. Additionally, about 53,000 people in the U.S. have shoulder replacement surgery each year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. While these numbers have remained fairly steady over the years, the procedures used to treat shoulder problems have grown by leaps and bounds. Recovery usually lasts for 2-4 weeks, at which time rehabilitation is recommended.

It’s extremely important to find a trusted orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible if you experience any of these sports injuries, in addition to pain in your neck, back, and hips. Make sure you have a qualified orthopedic surgeon on speed-dial just in case something does go awry on the court, field, or diamond.