Written by Sanaz Hariri, MD
Ski season is fast approaching. Before you head out to the garage to dig up your skis and boots, take a moment to educate yourself on how to minimize the chance of a serious injury this season. You can share these prevention strategies with your family and friends so that you can spend your vacation on the slopes rather than in the emergency room. As an orthopedic surgeon, I will offer you advice on recognizing and treating a common knee injury – and telling you how to avoid seeing me! While medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries are the most common significant knee skiing injury, they almost all heal on their own with bracing. However, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears often require surgical treatment, and so the ACL will be the focus of this article.