The knee is made up of many important structures, any of which can be injured. The most common knee injuries include fractures around the knee, dislocations and sprains, and tears of soft tissues, such as ligaments. In many cases, the injuries affect more than one structure of the knee. Pain and swelling are the most common signs of a knee injury. In addition, the knee may become engaged or locked.
Many knee injuries cause instability, meaning the feeling that the knee is giving way. The anterior cruciate ligament is the most frequently injured ligament in the knee. Sports injuries often cause anterior cruciate ligament tears. If you tear your anterior cruciate ligament, you'll likely need surgery to repair it.
Most people who tear their anterior cruciate ligament recover fully and return to sports without long-term consequences. The recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament tear is usually six to nine months. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries and tears are very common. Experts estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 people in the U.S. UU.
