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Treatment Overview.

ACL surgery is a procedure that doctors use to replace a torn ligament in your knee.

 

The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a band of tissue inside your knee. It gets damaged when it stretches or tears. ACL injuries are common among people who play sports because they make movements that can put a lot of stress on the knee. 

If you strain or slightly tear your ACL, it may heal over time with your doctor’s help and physical therapy. But if it’s completely torn, you may need to have it replaced -- especially if you’re young and active or an athlete who wants to keep playing sports. If you’re older or less active, your doctor might recommend treatments that don’t require surgery.

Eligibility For Treatment.

ACL reconstruction is generally recommended if:

 

  • You're an athlete and want to continue in your sport, especially if the sport involves jumping, cutting or pivoting
  • More than one ligament is injured
  • You have a torn meniscus that requires repair
  • The injury is causing your knee to buckle during everyday activities
  • You're young (though other factors, such as activity level and knee instability, are more important than age)

Preparation Before Treatment.

Tell your surgeon about any medications or dietary supplements you take. If you regularly take blood-thinning medications, your doctor may ask you to stop taking these types of drugs for at least a week before surgery to reduce your risk of bleeding.

 

Follow your doctor's instructions about when to stop eating, drinking and taking any other medication the night before your surgery.

About Treatment.

The procedure takes about an hour. You may have general anesthesia, which puts you to sleep through the surgery, or you may have regional anesthesia, when your doctor puts medicine in your back so you won’t feel anything in your legs for a few hours. If you have regional anesthesia, you probably will also get medicine that helps you relax during the procedure.

 

The first step is to place the graft at the right spot. Then, your doctor will drill two holes, called “tunnels.” They’ll put one in the bone above your knee and another in the bone below it. They’ll place screws in the tunnels to hold the graft in place. It serves as a sort of bridge that a new ligament will grow on as you heal. It can take months for a new ACL to grow in fully.

 

After surgery, most people are able to go home the same day. Your doctor will have you stay off your leg, rest your knee, and wear a brace to protect the joint.

Post-Treatment Care Treatment.

Once you recover from the anesthesia, you can go home the same day. Before you go home, you'll practice walking with crutches, and your surgeon may ask you to wear a knee brace or splint to help protect the graft.

 

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to control swelling and pain after surgery. In general, it's important to keep your leg elevated, apply a cold wrap or ice to your knee, and rest as much as possible.

Treatment Recovery Tips.

Progressive physical therapy after ACL surgery helps to strengthen the muscles around your knee and improve flexibility. A physical therapist will teach you how to do exercises that you will perform either with continued supervision or at home. Following the rehabilitation plan is important for proper healing and achieving the best possible outcomes.

Treatment FAQs.

Is ACL reconstruction surgery painful?

After the ACL surgery, the patient experiences a lot of pain when they apply weight on the leg. Depending on the type of reconstructive surgery, the patient is required to use crutches for a specified period.

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