Torn Knee Ligaments

Philadelphia (CBS) -- It happens often during the football season. Someone tears an acl or anterior cruciate ligament.

It can happen with a tough hit to the knee, somebody rolling over another player's knee or simply making a misstep. The acl tear can be a season ender for a player, but these tears don't just occur in the athletic arena. They can happen every day and happen to any of us. In fact there are an estimated 100,000 acl repairs in the US every year.

Women have acl tears nine times more than men. The other thing most people don't know is that for those not desiring to return to high level athletic competition, conservative non-surgical treatment can work.

Why is the acl so vulnerable? Primarily because it is the primary stabilizing structure in the knee.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Reporter