Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears often cause knee instability which over time can lead to symptoms that include pain and swelling. If left untreated the instability can lead to cartilage degeneration and eventually osteoarthritis.
When torn the ACL does not heal well on its own. Early attempts to repair the ligament by sewing it back together were not successful. Current techniques remove the torn ACL and replace it using a substitute tissue. ACL reconstruction can be accomplished using a variety of tissue sources. This includes tissues that are taken from you, termed autografts, and tissues taken from cadaveric donors (allografts).
In our practice we perform approximately 150 ACL reconstructions each year. Specific tissues that can be used include:
- Patellar Tendon (Auto / Allograft)
- Hamstring Tendon (Autograft)
- Achilles Tendon (Allograft)
The surgical technique varies slightly depending on the type of graft used. Choose one of the graft types to learn more about that specific technique.
Article: Female Athletes and ACL Injury