Many people think of ACL injuries in the context of sports because they are injuries caused by excessive force and twisting. The anterior cruciate ligament runs along the knee, so twisting the joint excessively can cause it to rip or tear. This is often a non-contact injury in football, for example, caused by the force as someone runs, cuts or turns.
But the same injury could occur in a car accident. A violent collision exerts sudden force on the body in unexpected directions. Injuries to the lower extremities are common in front-end collisions.
If you do suffer an ACL injury, it will likely require extensive surgery to repair. What type of recovery time are you looking at?
6 to 9 months
Generally speaking, an ACL injury takes 6 to 9 months to recover after surgery. This is true with a Grade 3 injury, which is a complete tear. The ACL is in two pieces and needs to be reconnected by the surgeon.
Grade 1 injuries simply stretch the ligament, while Grade 2 means that it can be partially torn. This could still require surgery, but may have a faster healing time.
Another key detail to consider is if there were other injuries that occurred along with the ACL tear. There could be injuries to other ligaments, such as the MCL, or a person could be dealing with muscle tears, compound fractures, crush injuries and much more. These can all increase the overall healing time.
But even in the best case, an ACL tear means that a person will be recovering for months. They may be unable to work, and the necessary surgery can be very expensive. That is why car accident victims need to know how they can seek compensation for medical treatment, lost wages and much more.