ACL reconstruction

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a type of knee surgery to restore the functional integrity of the torn ACL.

Overview

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Why you might need?

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a type of knee surgery to restore the functional integrity of the torn ACL.
ACL damage usually happens to people who play sports but can happen from simple and innocuous twists. You will be recommended for an ACL reconstruction if your knee gives way in activities you wish to pursue ranging from normal day-to-day activities to extreme sports.
ACL reconstruction aims to allow you to return to a previous sport and/or a physical job, but the outcomes are determined by the presence or absence of other injuries at the same time to the meniscus or more importantly the soft articular cartilage. In the absence of these other injuries, outcomes are excellent and allow even professional sportspeople back to the highest levels of competitive sport.

Treatment Info

After you have anaesthetic, your surgeon will examine your knee to check how bad the damage to your ligament is. The surgeon will examine the other knee ligaments to see if there is any additional damage. Two to four incisions will be made around the knee, with an arthroscope inserted which has a small telescope and a light inside to provide images to the surgeon. A new graft will be inserted via bone tunnels providing stability to the knee. The graft is secure using a variety of techniques that can involve screws or suspensory devices. The operation will last between 1 and 3 hours.

 

Treatment Preparation

Preparation varies from person to person, but your operation will likely take place anywhere from 3 -6 weeks after the injury. If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop as it increases risk of getting a chest/wound infection. Your doctor will also ask you to undergo some physio exercise to ensure you strengthen the surrounding muscles and restore your full range of motion. You may be under general anaesthetic for your procedure, in which case you will be given dietary restriction information prior to the surgery.

 

Treatment Risks

Other than general surgery risks (such as numbness, pain, bleeding or infection), the main ACL complications could include:

  • Re-rupture
  • Graft stretch or elongation
  • Permanent stiffness in the knee

If the knee has any signs of early arthritis, then there is a danger that stabilising the joint by reconstruction can make it painful, giving the patient who had a painless unstable knee, a painful stable knee. For this reason, the surgeon makes a formal evaluation of the joint with the scan and an arthroscopy prior to embarking on the surgical reconstruction.

Treatment Recovery

The operation is a day case which means you will be able to go home on the same day. You will have dressings on the wounds, and your doctor will inform you when to take them off. You should be able to go to work soon after the surgery if you have an office job but shouldn’t expect to go back to a physical labour job straight away. You may need crutches after your doctor will advise you on how best to manage any pain. Your journey with us doesn’t end after surgery, however. The graft that is inserted by the surgeon acts as a scaffold into which new healthy cells grow. For this reason, the graft does initially get weaker before it gets stronger again. Some surgeons will advocate the use of a brace routinely after surgery, others do not use a brace. Return to pre-injury activity is slow and even in professional sportspeople is rarely before 9 months after the surgery and completion of a rigorous post-operative physiotherapy regime.

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Treatment Programme
ACL reconstruction

Introduction

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction

Treatment

Typically 1 - 3 hrs keyhole surgery

Preparation

Risks

Aftercare

Physiotherapy, medication

Recovery

Typically 9 - 12 months

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Health Insurance

This service or treatment is generally covered by most health insurance policies. You are responsible for checking your insurance policy cover, and you may need a referral letter. Check which insurance companies are covered.

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Self-Pay Available

This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.

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Consultation Required

For this treatment you will need to have a 1-to-1 consultation at OneWelbeck first. To book in with our team of expert clinicians or to find out more about the process contact the relevant centre team.

ACL reconstruction Specialists

We boast a truly integrated team of orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, podiatric surgeons, rheumatology specialists, paid medicine consultants and hand therapy specialists. All of these services work together in one place, enabling us to give patients the best care possible.

Earliest availability 19 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Deepu Sethi

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Knee Conditions, Sports Injuries, Orthopaedics, Knee, Knee Arthroscopy, ACL Surgery, Meniscal Surgery, Arthritis, Knee Replacement, PCL Surgery, Knee Injuries, Cartilage Injuries.

Earliest availability 20 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Pramod Achan

Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hip Conditions, Knee Conditions, Sports Injuries, Orthopaedics, Hip Arthroscopy, Hip, Hip and Knee Disorders, Knee, Knee Reconstruction, Knee Arthroscopy, Arthritis, Meniscal Surgery.

Earliest availability 22 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Joshua Lee

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Knee Conditions, Hip Conditions, Orthopaedics, Sports Injuries, Hip, Knee, Knee Arthroscopy, Hip Arthroscopy, ACL Surgery, Arthritis, PCL Surgery, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Meniscal Surgery.

Mr David Goodier

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Limb Reconstruction, Orthopaedics, Lower Limb Fracture Treatment, Knee.

Mr Kostas Tsitskaris

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hip Conditions, Knee Conditions, Sports Injuries, Trauma, Orthopaedics, Hip, Knee, Hip Arthroscopy, Knee Arthroscopy, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement.

Mr Mark Webb

Consultant Orthopaedics Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Sports Injuries, Knee Arthroscopy, Hip Arthroscopy, ACL Surgery, Joint Preservation, Hip, Knee, Orthopaedics.

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