ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT (ACL) RECONSTRUCTION

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is an important ligament which holds together the thigh bone and shin bone at the center of the knee joint. It is often torn during sports injuries, road accidents or other twisting knee injuries. People suffering from torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) feel instability and insecurity in the knee while walking/running. This can cause secondary damage to other structures of the knee (meniscus, cartilage, etc) eventually leading to permanent joint damage or arthritis

Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) is surgically reconstructed by a minimally invasive technique using arthroscopic surgery. The damaged ligament is replaced by a graft taken from the patient’s own body (autograft) which is slotted into the two bones and fixed using implants (like button and screw). We perform ACL reconstruction by the anatomic technique. In this technique, a special scale is used to measure the exact point of attachment of native ACL on the bone. Next, the ACL graft is attached at that exact point. This ensures accurate graft placement. Graft placement is the most important factor determining the success of ACL surgery

We are pioneers in daycare Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery. After surgery, patients go home on the same day or the next morning. Following the surgery, our physiotherapists take you through a tailor made rehabilitation program to ensure the knee regains its strength and stability. You start walking the day after surgery. It generally takes 3 months to return to jogging and swimming. Running can start around 5 months. Sportspersons can return to contact sport generally between 6-9 months

ACL TEAR DIAGRAM

ACL tear on arthroscopy

ACL tear on MRI scans

ACL graft preparation – semitendonosis and gracilis graft with 5 strands

ACL surgery outside view

Completed ACL reconstruction on arthroscopy

ACL reconstruction keyholes just after surgery

ACL reconstruction xray – Endobutton on thigh bone and bioabsorbable screw on shin bone

ACL reconstruction scar 1 year after surgery