Description
Learn why the ACL is considered the “steering wheel” of the knee and how it protects overall joint health. In this video, a UAMS orthopedic specialist explains the role of the ACL, what happens when it’s torn, and why some patients may still function well without surgery. You’ll also hear about treatment options — from non-operative care to reconstruction — and how your lifestyle, goals and knee stability play a key role in deciding the right approach.
Whether you’re an athlete, active adult, or exploring knee injury treatment options, this explanation helps make a complex topic easy to understand with everyday analogies and clear guidance.
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Transcript
One of the common analogies I use for my patients is the ACL is like the steering wheel to your car, and the meniscus and the cartilage — they’re like the paint. And so one of the things that the ACL does over time is protect the rest of your knee.
When somebody has an ACL tear, I tell them you’ve bent the steering suspension, and if they have a meniscus or cartilage injury, I say you’ve scraped the paint off the side of your car. I can’t always undo the scraped paint, but what I can do is give you a new steering suspension to prevent your car from getting in any more wrecks.
What we know long-term is that if you don’t have an ACL in your knee, you’re at a higher risk for cartilage or meniscus injury over time — and that can happen as soon as three months after the injury.
Does everyone need an ACL? No. There’s a certain portion of the population we refer to as “copers,” meaning their knee feels stable despite having an ACL injury. Also, the ACL is primarily used for cutting, pivoting and twisting, and your knee can feel stable if you’re only doing straight-ahead activities.
So there are certainly situations — particularly in patients who enjoy walking, using the treadmill, or swimming and feel they have a stable knee — where non-operative care is absolutely an option, and something I talk to my patients about.
Ultimately, the decision to proceed with surgery depends on who you are, what your goals are, and what you want to get back to. And it’s my job to understand that when we meet in clinic, to provide you with the treatment options and help you pick what treatment option you think is right for you.
