The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is a fibrous band of tissue that prevents the thighbone from sliding over the shinbone. This ligament can be damaged, commonly during physical activity. The Mayo Clinic states that athletes who participate in sports that require frequent pivoting or jumping are at the highest risk. A patient with a torn ACL may experience pain, instability and swelling in the injured knee. A surgeon may recommend a knee arthroscopy to fix the ACL. However, this surgery does involve minimal risks.
Infection
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, infection is a possible complication of ACL surgery. The surgeon will likely use arthroscopic measures, which involve three small incisions in the knee. One hole is used for the camera, while the other two are used for other surgical tools. Although the risk is slight, bacteria may enter these holes and cause a knee infection. In more severe cases, the infection may spread to other parts of the body. A patient should immediately tell his doctor if he experiences excessive knee pain, swelling, redness, warmth to the touch or drainage of a pus-like fluid from the knee. A doctor may need to open the wound back up to clean out the infection. Additionally, he may prescribe antibiotics to help control the infection.
Blood Clots
A blood clot is a possible risk of ACL surgery, according to the AAOS. This occurs because surgery can damage the blood vessels in the knee, which increases the risk of blood clotting. A patient should let his doctor know if he experiences pain in the calf or other parts of the leg. In addition, he should tell his doctor if he notices excessive swelling in the lower or upper leg. A doctor will likely perform an ultrasound to look for a blood clot.
Excessive Bleeding
Blood may collect in the knee and cause excessive swelling, states the AAOS. This occurs because damage blood vessels from the surgery may not properly clot and cause bleeding to continue after the surgery. This will result in excessive swelling of the knee that may extend to other parts of the leg or drain from the wound. A patient should immediately let his surgeon know if his knee begins to swell or if blood drains from the wound. The surgeon may need to surgically clot the bleeding blood vessels.
