Complications and Treatment During Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Complications after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction presenting during rehabilitation can pose a significant challenge for the physical therapist, orthopedic surgeon, and patient. Among these complications are arthrofibrosis (loss of range of motion), quadriceps weakness, anterior knee pain, and gait impairments. There are desired objective goals for each variable throughout the rehabilitation program. These goals usually are attained through prudent procedures incorporated into the rehabilitation program for the specific purpose of preventing complication. These complications may present independently, although commonly they present together and each will affect the other in a cyclic manner. Therefore, should complications inevitably develop, modifications to the rehabilitation program must immediately ensue. Thus, reassessment by the physical therapist during rehabilitation must be ongoing and comprehensive in effort to identify all sources of impairment as soon as they begin to develop. At which time immediate treatment modifications addressing all areas of impairment must be implemented to ensure the best possible outcome and prevent the need for additional surgical intervention.