Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

The steps in the procedure vary depending on whether the surgeon has advised arthroscopic removal or resection of meniscus or repair using a graft.

Arthroscopic surgery is a keyhole or minimally invasive surgery that involves 2 to 3 small incisions near the knee. An instrument called an arthroscope, which has a camera attached to its tip is inserted through one of the incisions to view the knee ligaments from the inside.

From another incision, the surgeon inserts the instruments used to resect to remove the damaged meniscus.

In many cases, meniscus reconstruction using a synthetic graft or a graft taken from the muscle of the patient is done. The graft is attached to the meniscus after removing the damaged part. This procedure is also performed arthroscopically nowadays.

Depending on the extent of the injury and whether other ligaments are also ruptured, the surgeon may decide to conduct the surgery traditionally rather than arthroscopically.

You can expect to wear a brace or cast to keep your knee stable. You will probably have to use crutches for at least a few weeks to keep weight off your knee.

The total duration of hospital stay is about 2 days. After that, you will have to attend physiotherapy sessions to maintain the movement and stability of the knee. The stitches removal takes place after 7 to 10 days of the procedure when the surgical site has healed.

The physiotherapy has to be continued until you return to the normal routine and activities. Usually, the patient is made to walk the very next day of the procedure with the help of support.

Local anesthetics are injected into the wound and knee joint at the time of surgery. This will wear off within 8 to 12 hours and it is not uncommon for patients to encounter more pain on the first or second day after surgery when swelling peaks.

Most patients will require some narcotic pain medication for a short time – this can be taken as per directions on the bottle.