ACL Reconstruction Surgery

ACL reconstruction surgery has advanced in technique over the years, and Orthopedics International specialists have been at the forefront. 

Every year in the United States about 175,000 patients tear their anterior cruciate ligament, commonly known as their ACL, and choose to have reconstructive surgery. Just 30 years ago most surgeons did not understand the ACL and the vital role it plays in knee stability.  

In the “old days” of ACL surgery, surgeons made huge incisions, sometimes one foot long, on each side of the knee. The patient was immobilized in a cast for up to three months, and then rehabilitation took up to two years. ACL surgery at that time was only offered to young people. It was too brutal, and the rehab too long, for anyone with a job or family.

Today, orthopedics surgeons are much more skilled and have new techniques and technology to help the surgery go more easily. The arthroscope (use of a small camera) is commonplace. For years surgeons have been experimenting with using it to make smaller incisions in ACL surgery. 

Using the patient’s own hamstring tendon(s) is one reconstruction method that has stood the test of time. When the decision is made to perform ACL surgery using the patient’s own tendon, it is referred to as an autograft tendon transplant. There are many advantages of using ones own tissue:

• There is no extra cost
• There is no rejection
• Tendons will slowly regenerate over about a six-month period
• The surgery can be easily performed as an outpatient procedure. 

Doctors at Orthopedics International have been at the forefront of developing outpatient, autograft hamstring ACL reconstructive techniques.