| India is turning out to be a top destination for | | | | ·It is easy to see and work on the knee structures. |
| patients and travelers worldwide. With its state of | | | | ·It uses smaller incisions than open surgery. |
| the art hospitals and highly qualified UK and USA | | | | ·It can be done at the same time as diagnostic |
| trained doctors, it will soon transform into the | | | | arthroscopy (using arthroscopy to determine the |
| worldwide medical hub. Medical tourism is a term | | | | injury or damage to the knee). |
| coined which covers patients traveling across the | | | | ·It may have fewer risks than open surgery. |
| globe for tourism purposes clubbing their | | | | ·Rehabilitation is often faster after arthroscopy than |
| requirements for treatment of acute illness, elective | | | | after open surgery. |
| surgeries such as cardiology, hip replacement, knee | | | | Arthroscopic surgery is performed under spinal or |
| replacement, etc. The government is taking serious | | | | general anesthesia. |
| initiatives in this regards and plans to start overseas | | | | During arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, the surgeon |
| marketing of India as a medical tourism destination. | | | | makes several small incisions; usually two or three |
| The government of India is of the opinion that by | | | | around the knee. Sterile saline (salt) solution is |
| marketing India as a global medical tourism | | | | pumped into the knee through one incision to expand |
| destination, it could capitalise on the low-cost, | | | | it and to wash blood from the area. This allows the |
| high-quality medical care available in the country. | | | | health professional to see the knee structures more |
| What is Anterior Cruciate Ligament? | | | | clearly.The surgeon inserts an arthroscope into one |
| The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the primary | | | | of the other incisions. A camera at the end of the |
| stabilizer of the knee. If it is torn, the person will feel | | | | arthroscope transmits pictures from inside the knee |
| a pop and experiences immediate pain and swelling, | | | | to a TV monitor in the operating room. Surgical drills |
| and if not repaired, the patient will have recurrent | | | | are inserted through other small incisions. The surgeon |
| instability of the knee. Over time, this can cause | | | | drills small holes into the upper and lower leg bones |
| long-term damage. According to the surgeons the | | | | where these bones come close together at the knee |
| female athletes are six times more likely to tear their | | | | joint. The holes form tunnels through which the graft |
| ACL than their male counterparts. The anterior | | | | will be anchored. The surgeon will take the autograft |
| cruciate ligament (ACL) serves an important stabilising | | | | (replacement tissue) at this point. If it comes from |
| and biomechanical function for the knee joint. Rupture | | | | the knee, it will include two small pieces of bone |
| of the ACL leads to abnormal kinematics and | | | | called "bone blocks" on both ends. One piece of bone |
| predisposes the joint to degenerative changes. | | | | is taken from the kneecap and the other piece is |
| How is torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament Diagnosed? | | | | taken from a part of the lower leg bone near the |
| The diagnosis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear is | | | | knee joint. If the autograft comes from the |
| based on: | | | | hamstring, bone blocks are not taken. The graft may |
| ·Physical examination by Lachmans Test and | | | | also be taken from a deceased donor (allograft). |
| Drawers Test. | | | | The graft is pulled through the two tunnels that were |
| ·X-ray evaluation - X-ray films are evaluated for any | | | | drilled in the upper and lower leg bones. The surgeon |
| possible tearing away of bone where the Anterior | | | | secures the graft with screws or staples and will |
| Cruciate Ligament attaches. Also, the x-ray will show | | | | close the incisions with stitches or tape. A temporary |
| any loose bone fragments or fractures. | | | | surgical drain may be put in place. The knee is |
| ·Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - MRI is a | | | | bandaged, and patient is taken to the recovery room |
| non-invasive test that produces an image of all parts | | | | for 2 to 3 hours. |
| of the knee. In this test, patient will lie in a hollow | | | | During ACL surgery, the surgeon may repair other |
| cylinder while powerful magnets create signals from | | | | injured parts of the knee as well, such as ligaments, |
| inside the knee, which are then converted into a | | | | cartilage, or broken bones. |
| computer image that clearly shows any damage to | | | | What is the outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament |
| the structures inside the joint. The images are | | | | repair? |
| valuable not only to determine the presence of an | | | | Successful ACL reconstruction surgery tightens knee |
| anterior cruciate ligament tear, but also to assess the | | | | and restores its stability. It also helps patient avoid |
| degree of the tear along with any damage to related | | | | further injury and get back to playing sports. After |
| structures, such as the meniscus and other ligaments. | | | | ACL reconstruction, patient will need to do |
| The Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery: | | | | rehabilitation exercises to gradually return his knee to |
| Surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries | | | | full flexibility and stability. Building strength in thigh and |
| involves reconstructing or repairing the ACL. | | | | calf muscles helps support the reconstructed |
| ·ACL reconstruction surgery uses a graft to replace | | | | structure. Patient may need to use a knee brace for |
| the ligament. The most common grafts are | | | | awhile and will probably have to stay out of sports |
| autografts using part of patientr own body, such as | | | | for about one year after the surgery. |
| the tendon of the kneecap (patellar tendon) or one | | | | Why should one go for Anterior Cruciate Ligament |
| of the hamstring tendons. Other good choices include | | | | Surgery in India? |
| allograft tissue, which is donor material. | | | | More and more western patients seeking surgery are |
| ·In repair surgery, the ends of the torn ligament are | | | | looking towards eastern destinations such as India, |
| sewn back together. | | | | for their medical needs, including orthopedic |
| Most ACL surgery is done by reconstructing the ACL | | | | procedures. The healthcare sector in this region has |
| because reconstruction gives better results than | | | | become a flourishing industry. As patients from |
| repair surgery. Repair surgery generally is only used | | | | Europe, the US and other affluent nations with high |
| when the ACL has been torn from the upper or | | | | medical costs look for effective options, strong |
| lower leg bone. This type of injury is uncommon. In | | | | competition in the region among India, are seen as |
| the case of an avulsion fracture, the bone fragment | | | | increasingly favorable with their state of the art |
| connected to the ACL is reattached to the bone.ACL | | | | hospitals, salubrious climate and tourism appeal. |
| surgery is done by making small incisions in the knee | | | | Attractive and affordable medical packages have |
| and inserting instruments for surgery through these | | | | now been developed to include: airfare, surgery, |
| incisions (arthroscopic surgery) or by cutting a large | | | | meals and five star accommodations with an |
| incision in the knee (open surgery). | | | | additional site-seeing option. So that is why India is |
| Arthroscopic surgery | | | | the most favorable destination for knee and |
| Many health professional use arthroscopic surgery | | | | orthopedic surgery. |
| rather than open surgery for ACL injuries because: | | | | |