ACL Reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is a surgery performed to replace a torn anterior cruciate, a major ligament in your knee. This type of injury usually occurs during sporting activities that involve sudden stops and changes in directions, such as soccer and rugby.

For relatively inactive people, physical therapy may successfully treat an ACL injury. However, ACL reconstruction surgery is usually recommended if:

• The patient is an athlete and wants to continue playing sport
• More than one ligament is injured
• The patient has a torn meniscus that requires repair
• The injury is causing the knee to buckle during everyday activities
• The patient is young

The surgeon removes the torn ligament during the procedure and replaces it with a band of tissue that connects the muscle to the bone. This is known as the tendon. The graft tendon is typically taken from another part of the knee or a donor.

Once the procedure is complete, stability and function in the knee can usually be restored with physical therapy and focused rehabilitation. Within the first few weeks, the patient should work towards regaining a range of motion that is equal to the opposite knee. Recovery can generally take about 9 months, but it may take 12 months before athletes can return to sport.