Indication
- Knee instability (giving way) due to anterior cruciate ligament damage following sporting/twisting and other knee injury.
What is ACL reconstruction?
It is the repair of the damaged ligament that connects the front top of the leg (tibia) to the rear bottom of the thigh bone (femur).
Cruciate ligament reconstruction involves replacing the torn anterior cruciate ligament of the knee with a graft. The graft is usually a section of tendon taken from another part of your knee, or part of a muscle tendon, sometimes it is taken from a donor or made from synthetic material. The operation is normally performed using arthroscopy (“keyhole” surgery).
Cruciate ligament reconstruction typically lasts one to two hours and usually requires an overnight stay in hospital.
What are the benefits of having a surgery?
- The ACL is one of the four knee ligaments crucial to the stability of the knee joint. Damage to the ACL results in stability of the knee joint.
Home Discharge
- The physiotherapist will advice on gentle exercises to avoid knee stiffness. Further physiotherapy is required on discharge and this will be arranged before you are discharged home.
- You will be reviewed in two weeks time following the surgery.
When will I be able to return to work and resume day to day activates?
- You will need to be off work for at least 4 – 12 weeks depending on your type of work.
- You will not be able to drive for at least 4 – 6 weeks.
- Contacts sports should be avoided for 6 – 9 months.
