On Friday, March 19th, 2021, a very unfortunate event took place on the ice when late in the first period of the St. Louis Blue’s hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Oskar Sundqvist, sustained a knee injury after colliding with fellow teammate, Kyle Clifford. He has been diagnosed with having a torn ACL, which means that he will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season, including the playoffs.
Sadly, this type of orthopedic-related sports injury is not unexpected and occurs quite often. It can happen to anyone at any time when playing hard, and can even affect non-athletes as well.
What is a Torn ACL?
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of four ligaments in your knee. Located in the middle of the knee, its primary job is to provide stabilization for your knee. The three other ligaments include the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), and the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL).
Although more commonly something that affects women, it is possible for anyone to experience a sprain or tearing in the ACL. When damaged with a sprain or tear, you may feel a pop that is followed by some very intense pain and will likely experience swelling as well. If you experience any of these symptoms, you will need to have a doctor examine you to work out possible solutions. The initial examination will include a physical exam and likely x-rays or MRI scans, which will show the doctor the extent of the injury and how best to treat it.
Treatment Options for a Torn ACL
A torn ACL is a rather big deal for anyone if left untreated as it can cause pain for months. As a general rule, treatment options will depend based on your specific needs. The goal is to get you back to the things you were doing before your injury took place. If you lead a very active lifestyle, Arthroscopic Surgery may be the best option since it will allow the doctor to repair the ACL tear. Someone with a less active lifestyle may be able to get back to normal through physical therapy and exercise rehabilitation.
What Happens Next for Sundqvist?
Sundqvist will likely have a waiting period of a few weeks to give his knee muscles a chance to strengthen and to reduce the risk of excess scarring. However, his current plan is to undergo surgery while also being re-evaluated at training camp before the start of next season so that he can get back on the ice as soon as possible.
If you are concerned that you may have sustained a knee injury, or you feel intense pain, contact us today so we can diagnose your symptoms and discuss treatment options. We will get you back in action as quickly as possible.