Estepona (Malaga), January 31 2024. A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee is a common injury among athletes, particularly in high impact sports such as football. Although not exclusive to sports professionals, there are currently a number of elite footballers recovering from this injury, which can sometimes be career ending.
The introduction of the “all-inside” technique, now employed at Hospiten Estepona, represents a highly advanced and effective solution for reducing recovery time for these athletes and speeding their return to the playing fields with confidence. Dr. Manuel Vides, Head of traumatology and orthopaedic surgery at Hospiten Estepona, gave an insight into this type of intervention: “given that in theory it involves a less aggressive and painful surgery, this can result in faster recovery with less discomfort than other traditional operations”.
What does the “all-inside” technique involve?
In the “all-inside” technique, the surgeon proceeds to extract the tendons from the hamstrings via a small incision in the back of the knee, and subsequently use them as a graft in the affected area. In anterior cruciate reconstruction, precision is vital during the preparation of the graft with the possibility of only using the semitendinosus tendon, thereby avoiding the straight internal muscle tendon. This method not only improves strength, but also preserves the knee flexion function.
As Dr. Manuel Vides explains, in this surgery “we create tunnels in the femur and the tibia from inside the joint, into which the tissue previously extracted from patient (as a general rule) is then inserted to reconstruct the ligament. With minimal incisions in the front of the knee, through which the video camera and the necessary instruments are introduced, we ensure a less invasive procedure”.
Benefits
- A minimally invasive technique. As we have seen, the use of minimally invasive methods can reduce the risk of complications and speed up the recovery process.
- Preservation of the bone. This more conservative approach not only makes the surgical intervention easier, but also helps to preserve the structural integrity of the bone when compared with traditional techniques.
- Reduced post-operative pain. Concern for patient care is always a priority at Hospiten, and this technique tends to improve the patient’s experience significantly during their recovery period.
- Faster recovery for athletes. Given the frequency of ACL sports injuries, this technique is likely to be the favoured option for those looking to return to training and competition as soon as possible.
Hospiten Estepona reaffirms its commitment to healthcare excellence employing the latest technology designed to address patients’ clinical needs and improve their quality of life. The introduction of the “all-inside” technique to treat a torn anterior cruciate ligament is a significant step forward in the field of traumatology, completely focused on the patient.
About the Hospiten Group
The Hospiten Group is an international healthcare network committed to providing the highest quality service, with over 50 years’ experience and 20 private hospitals based in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama, as well as more than 100 outpatient clinics, under the Clinic Assist brand. Originally founded by Dr. Pedro Luis Cobiella, it now attends over two million patients every year with a staff of more than 5,000 people.