Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
This webpage will give you information about an ACL
reconstruction. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP
or other relevant health professional.
What is the anterior cruciate ligament?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the important
ligaments that stabilise the knee joint (see figure 1). If this
ligament has been torn (ruptured), the knee can collapse or ‘give
way’ when making twisting or turning movements.
Figure 1 - Diagram showing the internal structure of a
right knee
How does an ACL rupture happen?
An ACL rupture happens as a result of a twisting injury to the
knee. The common causes are football and skiing injuries. You can
injure other parts of your knee at the same time, such as tearing a
cartilage or damaging the joint surface.
What are the benefits of surgery?
If your ACL reconstruction is successful, your knee should not
give way any more. This will allow you to be more active and return
to some or all of your sporting activities.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
Your physiotherapist can give you exercises to strengthen and
improve the co-ordination of the muscles in your thigh. This can
often stop your knee giving way during everyday activities. Wearing
a knee brace can sometimes help during sports activities.
What does the operation involve?
A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. Your surgeon
will make one or more cuts on the front and sides of your knee.
Some surgeons perform the operation by arthroscopy (‘keyhole’
surgery) using a camera to see inside the knee. They will replace
the ACL with a piece of suitable tissue (a graft) from elsewhere in
the body. The top and bottom ends of the replacement ligament are
fixed with special screws or anchors into ‘tunnels’ drilled in the
bone.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection in the surgical wound
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
2 Specific complications of this operation
- Break of the kneecap
- Damage to nerves around the knee
- Infection in the knee joint
- Discomfort in the front of the knee
- Loss of knee movement
- Recurrent giving way of the knee
- Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of the knee (Complex
Regional Pain Syndrome)
How soon will I recover?
You should be able to go home after one or two days. Your
surgeon may want you to wear a knee brace for a few weeks after the
operation. Once the knee is settling down you will need to start
intensive physiotherapy treatment which may continue for as long as
six months. It is unlikely that your knee will ever be quite as
good as it was before the original injury.
Summary
If your knee continually gives way after an ACL rupture,
reconstruction offers the chance of improving the stability of your
knee in everyday life and in sporting activities. You may be able
to return to a level of sport that otherwise would not be
possible.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.)
Illustrations: Mr Stephen Milner DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.)
This document is intended for information purposes only and
should not replace advice that your relevant health professional
would give you.
Copyright © 2008 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this website is
produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay
Health Care UK.
The intellectual property rights to the information belong
exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.
You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any
of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial
use.
The information should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.
Hospitals offering this treatment
- Ashtead, Surrey, Ashtead Hospital
- Banbury, Horton NHS Treatment Centre
- Bingley, Yorkshire Clinic
- Caterham, North Downs Hospital
- Chelmsford, Springfield Hospital
- Chorley, Euxton Hall Hospital
- Colchester, Oaks Hospital
- Doncaster, Park Hill Hospital
- Gloucester, Winfield Hospital
- Halesowen, West Midlands Hospital
- Hitchin, Pinehill Hospital
- Kettering, Woodand Hospital
- Nottinghamshire, Nottingham Hospital
- Ormskirk, Renacres Hospital
- Orpington, Bromley Private Patient Unit
- Peterborough, Fitzwilliam Hospital
- Preston, Fulwood hospital
- Reading, Berkshire Independent Hospital
- Salford, Oaklands Hospital
- Salisbury, New Hall Hospital
- Sawbridgeworth, Rivers Hospital
- Stafford, Rowley Hospital
- Torquay, Mount Stuart Hospital
- Truro, Duchy Hospital