Could this be another paradigm shift in medical care? This time it's substituting a non-surgical approach vs the current surgical approach for ACL ruptures.
A recent study found that a non-surgical bracing procedure for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures of the knee resulted in 90% having evidence of ACL healing at 3 months. And those with more healing at 3 months had better long-term (12 month) outcomes.
Those with less severe ACL ruptures had quicker, better healing, and a greater percentage (92%) returned to their pre-injury sport. But 64% were able to return to their sport even if they had a more severe ACL rupture. Eleven patients (14%) reinjured their ACL within a year.
The Cross Bracing Protocol (CBP) used in this study of 80 patients (within 4 weeks of ACL rupture) was: 1) knee immobilization at 90° flexion in a brace for 4 weeks, 2) followed by progressive increases in range-of-motion until the brace was removed at 12 weeks, and 3) physiotherapist-supervised goal-oriented rehabilitation.
The researchers hypothesized that holding the knee at 90 degrees could help unite the torn ends of the ACL and encourage healing. Of course, more and larger studies are now needed to confirm the results.
From Medical Xpress: New treatment could help avoid surgery by healing ACL rupture, study shows
A new non-surgical bracing treatment may help to facilitate healing after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, a new study has found. ...continue reading "New Non-Surgical Approach to ACL Rupture Looks Promising"