Circumstances of the injury:

During the full-scale invasion in 2022, I began my military service.
On July 7, 2025, while stationed near Vovchansk, our position came under mortar fire. One of the rounds struck a nearby tree, and the impact sent a piece of shrapnel flying directly into the trench, hitting me. Despite the pain and the intense situation around me, I managed to evacuate myself to a safer area.

Diagnosis:

Closed injury of the medial meniscus and partial injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the right knee joint.

The medial meniscus is the inner cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee. Its injury causes pain, clicking, and a sensation of the knee “locking.”

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main ligaments that keeps the knee stable. It is partially torn, which can make the knee feel unstable or prone to “giving way.”

Clinical Decision:

ACL reconstruction with autograft, fixation with screws.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is reconstructed by replacing the damaged ligament with the patient’s own tissue — typically a portion of a tendon taken from the leg. This is referred to as an autograft.

The new ligament is secured inside bone tunnels using special medical screws. This ensures that the graft is firmly fixed in place, allowing it to integrate properly with the bone and restore the knee’s stability.

After this procedure, the knee joint can regain strength and stability with proper rehabilitation.