Do knee braces help after ACL surgery? Richard Cunningham, MD – a renowned board-certified orthopedic surgeon and knee doctor – has reconstructed thousands of ACL tears. Dr. Cunningham’s ACL surgery treatment plan always includes a timely and safe return to an active lifestyle. Many patients question if it is safe to play sports without a knee brace after ACL surgery. Dr. Cunningham answers the question: do knee braces help after ACL surgery?
ACL Surgery
Although there are certain tear patters wherein the native ACL can be preserved and repaired, in most cases, patients tear the ACL in the mid-substance or in the middle of the ligament. These types of tears are not amenable to repair. Instead, the torn ACL needs to be reconstructed. In ACL reconstruction surgery, the torn ligament is first removed from the knee arthroscopically. A tendon graft (usually taken from the patient) is then placed and secured in the knee exactly where the original ACL once attached to the ends of the femur and the tibia. The graft slowly heals to these bone attachments, and over time small blood vessels and nerve fibers grow into the tendon graft making it a living ligament in the knee. Once this maturation process has occurred and when the patient has a full return of their strength, then patients are allowed to return to all sports and activities.
Knee Brace After Initial ACL Surgery
During the first few weeks after ACL surgery, there is an increased risk of a patient falling due to muscle weakness so during this time a postoperative brace is utilized. Unless there is associated meniscus repair surgery, the postop brace can usually be discontinued by 2-3 weeks after ACL surgery. Patients report a sense of protection when using a brace. It can also bring relief from some of the post-surgical discomfort. A brace provides a sense of support, protection and control as patients increase demands on the knee.
When patients are nearing the end of their ACL recovery at approximately 8 months from surgery and when they are ready to resume cutting and pivoting sports, they are fitted with a carbon fiber sports brace. Dr. Cunningham recommends using this brace for one year when patients are engaged in cutting and pivoting sports such as skiing or soccer. This sports brace is not needed for activities such as hiking or biking. However, it may protect the knee from another injury during cutting and pivoting sports, and therefore Dr. Cunningham asks that patients wear it for one year once cleared for these activities. Unfortunately, patients can still reinjure their knee even when wearing a brace if there is a severe enough injury. Keeping all the muscles around the knee strong and also keeping a strong core limits the chance of a reinjury to the knee.
To learn more about knee bracing after ACL surgery and other concerns about knee conditions and treatments, contact Dr. Cunningham today. Call the Edwards, CO office at (970) 569-3240, the Vail, CO office at (970) 476-2451, or the Frisco, CO office at (970) 668-3633.