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Navigating the slopes: Understanding ACL injuries in skiing

Mr Raghbir Khakha, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Cromwell Hospital, shares his insights on ACL injuries in skiing.

Man skiing down snow-covered slopes

Mr Raghbir Khakha is a world-leading expert in sports injuries and shares his insights on knee injuries and skiing.  

Statistics show that three injuries happen per 1,000 skiers with knee injuries accounting for 30 to 40% of all injuries. 

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What is the ACL?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a common sporting knee injury.  

Your ACL is a band of tissue that runs through the middle of your knee joint. It attaches your thigh bone to your shin bone and is responsible for preventing excessive forward movement of your tibia against your femur. 

Most ACL injuries occur during sports that involve sudden changes in direction, but they can also be caused by excessive bending or straightening of the leg, landing incorrectly when jumping, or an acute injury (such as a fall or blow).  

Typically, patients describe a pop in the knee which is sensitive for an ACL rupture. Up to a quarter will have an associated meniscal or associated ligament injury.  

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Skiing ACL injuries

The incidence of ACL injuries linked to skiing is close to 30%. Often, ski ACL injuries occur when the skier falls and twists their knee, such as when ski bindings do not release.  

ACL injuries affect all ages but is more common in female patients. The reasons why it is more common in female patients, is similar to that seen in women’s sport in general.  

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How to manage an ACL injury

Managing the swelling early has been shown to reduce knee pain, improve quadriceps function, and improve time to recovery. This can be done utilising multiple methods including ice, physiotherapy, and physically removing the fluid from the knee in clinic.  

A multidisciplinary approach with physiotherapists helps to restore range of movement and reduce swelling and, in up to 30% of patients, can help reduce instability symptoms and manage non-operatively.  

In adolescents, athletes, and professional sports people, it’s an important structure to preserve knee biomechanics and often requires surgery in these groups. If there is an associated ligament injury, then a brace may be required to allow the associated ligament to heal before intervening.  

Most patients are suitable for an ACL reconstruction, where a quadriceps tendon, hamstring tendon, or patella tendon can be used to replace the torn ACL – and, in rare circumstances, the patient’s own ACL may be amenable to repair.  

To find out the latest prices for ACL surgery at Cromwell Hospital, please visit our dedicated page. 

Call us today on +44 (0)20 7244 4886 > 

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