A torn ligament can cause pain, joint instability, and limited mobility that affects your daily activities and athletic performance. At All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute, our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons provide advanced ligament preservation and repair procedures using personalized treatment plans and minimally invasive techniques whenever appropriate. Serving Houston, Clear Lake, Lake Jackson, and Kingwood, we are committed to restoring joint stability, relieving pain, and helping patients return to active lifestyles.
What is Ligament Preservation/Repair?
Ligament preservation/repair is a surgical procedure to correct and restore a torn or damaged ligament by replacing it with a graft or by removing the injured ends and suturing the remaining healthy ends of the ligament together. This procedure can be performed for ligaments of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.
Ligaments and Ligament Injuries
Ligaments are bands of tough elastic tissues around your joints. They connect one bone to another. Ligaments provide support to your joints and regulate their movements. Ligaments are present in your knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows, and other joints.
The ligaments can be injured during contact sports such as football, soccer, and basketball. The other causes of ligament injuries include accidents and degenerative wear and tear.
Indications for Ligament Preservation/Repair
Indications for Ligament Preservation/Repair:
- Ligament injury
- Advanced osteoarthritis that has not responded to non-surgical treatments
Procedure: Ligament Preservation/Repair
Ligament preservation/repair is usually performed under general anesthesia.
- An incision (cut) is made at the specific site.
- Your surgeon can either perform ligament preservation/repair through a single long cut called a traditional open surgery or through 2-4 tiny incisions using an arthroscope, called arthroscopic surgery.
The surgical repair of a torn/injured ligament can be accomplished through either of the methods below:
- Your orthopedic surgeon may reconstruct the torn ligament using a tissue graft taken from another part of your body or from a donor. Gradually, over a period of a few months, the graft heals. Or,
- Your orthopedic surgeon may remove the damaged part of the ligament and stitch the healthy ends together.
Upon completion, the incisions are closed and covered with a bandage.
Post-Operative Care for Ligament Preservation/Repair
You may be required to stay in the hospital for a day or two to monitor your recovery.
- You will be prescribed medications to prevent blood clots.
- Swelling and discomfort can be managed with pain relief medications.
- You will be referred to a physical therapist soon after your surgery to regain range of motion.
- You will be encouraged to move around to keep your joints active and facilitate a quicker recovery.
- You should follow your surgeon’s advice regarding activities post-surgery.
- You should visit your doctor for a follow-up examination after surgery to monitor your progress.
What are the Risks and Complications of Ligament Preservation/Repair?
Every surgical procedure carries some amount of risk. Similarly, ligament preservation/repair may also have certain risks and complications. These may include:
- Complications from anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Nerve injury
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot)
What are the Benefits/Advantages of Ligament Preservation/Repair?
Ligament preservation/repair helps restore a torn or damaged ligament to a healthy state enhancing your quality of life. If you are an athlete, ligament preservation will help you return to your high-level sports after a period of rehabilitation.
Why Choose All American Orthopedic Surgeons for Ligament Preservation & Repair in Houston, Lake Jackson & Kingwood?
Ligament injuries can significantly affect the stability and function of your joints, making everyday movements, work, and sports activities difficult. At All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute, our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons provide comprehensive evaluation and advanced ligament preservation and repair procedures designed to restore joint stability while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. Whenever appropriate, we utilize minimally invasive techniques to support faster recovery and improved outcomes.
Patients choose our orthopedic team because we offer:
- Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons with expertise in sports medicine and ligament injuries
- Comprehensive evaluations using advanced diagnostic imaging
- Personalized treatment plans tailored to your injury, activity level, and recovery goals
- Advanced arthroscopic and minimally invasive ligament repair techniques when appropriate
- Surgical treatment for ligament injuries affecting the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, and other joints
- Comprehensive rehabilitation programs to restore strength, mobility, and joint stability
- Convenient office locations in Houston (Clear Lake), Lake Jackson, and Kingwood
Our goal is to relieve pain, restore joint function, preserve healthy ligament tissue whenever possible, and help you safely return to work, sports, and everyday activities.
Ligament Preservation & Repair FAQs
What is ligament preservation and repair?
Ligament preservation and repair is a surgical procedure designed to restore a torn or damaged ligament by repairing the existing tissue when possible or reconstructing the ligament using a graft when necessary. The goal is to restore joint stability while preserving healthy ligament tissue whenever appropriate.
What conditions can ligament preservation and repair treat?
This procedure may be recommended for ligament injuries involving the knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow, and other joints. It is commonly used to treat sports injuries, traumatic ligament tears, and joint instability that does not improve with conservative treatment.
Will I need surgery for a ligament injury?
Not always. Many ligament injuries respond well to rest, bracing, physical therapy, and activity modification. Surgery is generally considered when the ligament is completely torn, the joint remains unstable, or conservative treatment fails to relieve symptoms.
Is ligament repair better than ligament reconstruction?
The most appropriate procedure depends on the location of the tear, the quality of the remaining ligament tissue, and your individual injury. In carefully selected patients, repairing and preserving the native ligament may offer excellent outcomes, while reconstruction remains the preferred option for injuries that cannot be successfully repaired.
Is ligament preservation performed arthroscopically?
Many ligament preservation and repair procedures can be performed arthroscopically using small incisions and specialized instruments. Minimally invasive surgery may reduce postoperative discomfort and support a quicker recovery compared to traditional open procedures when appropriate.
How long is recovery after ligament repair?
Recovery varies depending on the joint involved, the severity of the injury, and the type of repair performed. Most patients participate in a structured rehabilitation program, with recovery ranging from several weeks to several months before returning to unrestricted activities.
Will I need physical therapy after surgery?
Yes. Physical therapy is an important part of recovery following ligament preservation or repair. Rehabilitation helps restore strength, flexibility, balance, range of motion, and joint stability while reducing the risk of reinjury.
Restore Joint Stability at All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute
If you've experienced a ligament injury that is causing pain, instability, or difficulty participating in everyday activities, the experienced orthopedic team at All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute is here to help. We provide comprehensive evaluation and advanced ligament preservation and repair procedures designed to restore stability, improve function, and help you recover with confidence.
With convenient locations in Houston (Clear Lake), Lake Jackson, and Kingwood, expert orthopedic care is always close to home. Contact All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute today to schedule your consultation and learn whether ligament preservation and repair is the right treatment option for your condition.
