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ACL reconstruction surgery


ACL reconstruction surgery is usually recommended for most active persons with ACL tears.  The surgery is performed arthroscopically ("keyhole" surgery with 2 small holes in the front of the knee).  The replacement tissue for the ACL is known as the "graft".  This graft is tunneled through drill holes made in the tibia (leg bone) and femur (thigh) bone and fixed in the position of the original ACL.

ACL  aclr

The graft usually taken from:-
  • other parts of the patients own body
    • hamstring tendon (from the hamstring muscle at the back of the leg, still leaving most of the muscle intact)
    • patellar tendon (the middle one-third) of the tendon in front of the knee.
    • same tendons as above but opposite leg
    • other tendons
  • donated tissue, known as allograft
The main tendons used are the patients own hamstring tendon, or patellar tendon from the same knee as the ACL injury.  Each of these two tendons has its own advantages and disadvantages.  In the past, the patellar tendon graft was more commonly used.  However, in recent years, the majority of sports surgeons in Singapore use the hamstring tendon.  Opposite leg grafts and allografts are usually reserved for more complex cases, or in revision surgery, where previous ACL reconstruction grafts have ruptured.

ACL reconstruction surgery can be performed either as a day surgery procedure, or in some cases, patients can elect to stay overnight for 1 or 2 nights.  After surgery, patients need to use crutches to reduce the weight on the operated leg for about 1-3 weeks, depending on their comfort level, and confidence.  Intensive physiotherapy starts almost immediately, and patients would need regular physiotherapy for at least 3 to 6 months, to gain the greatest benefit of the operation.

Typically, many patients start jogging at about 2 to 3 months, and return to gentle sporting activities at 6 months.  After 1 year, the success rate of the surgery in allowing patients to return to their previous level of sporting activity is about 90%.

Click here to watch a video of  Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction (2Mb file).

Back to ACL injury page.   |  Forward to Double Bundle ACL reconstruction.

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 ACL

Minimally Invasive Orthopaedic Surgery
Mount Elizabeth Medical Center
3 Mount Elizabeth #03-06/07
Singapore 228510

Tel +65 67378522
Fax +65 67376169
After office hours +65 65358833
Email info@miortho.sg

Office hours:
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Saturdays
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