ACL Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the key stabilising ligaments inside the knee, particularly important during pivoting, cutting, and sudden changes of direction. It's commonly injured during sports that involve rapid deceleration or twisting, such as football, netball, basketball, and skiing, and often tears with a popping sensation, immediate swelling, and a feeling that the knee is giving way.
Because the ACL has limited capacity to heal on its own, surgical reconstruction is often recommended for people who want to return to pivoting sports or whose knee continues to feel unstable with everyday activity.
ACL Surgery
ACL reconstruction involves replacing the torn ligament with a graft, most commonly taken from the patient's own hamstring tendons or the quadriceps tendon, which is threaded through tunnels drilled in the femur and tibia and fixed in place to recreate the original ligament's function.
In some patients, particularly those who are younger, more active in pivoting sports, Liam will discuss a lateral extra-articular tenodesis, alongside the main reconstruction. This involves tensioning a strip of tissue on the outer side of the knee to provide an additional checkrein against rotational forces, working in tandem with the ACL graft rather than replacing it. This can further reduce the risk of re-injury.
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Recovery involves a structured rehabilitation program with early range-of-motion work, progressive strengthening, and a graduated return to sport, typically over twelve months, guided by physiotherapy milestones rather than time alone. I work in tandem with local physiotherapists to ensure a optimal return to sport pathway.