Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

The ACL is one of the main stabilizers of the knee joint. When this ligament is torn, pain, swelling, and knee instability can develop. These symptoms can make movements like walking, running, squatting, and going up and down stairs difficult and painful.

Treatment for an ACL tear depends on the severity and location of the tear as well as the patient’s age and activity level. Significant ACL tears may require surgery to restore function. Physical therapy plays an important role in rehabilitation of all ACL tears, whether surgery is needed or not.

There are two options for surgery for a torn ACL: an ACL repair reattaches the torn ACL back to bone, and an ACL reconstruction replaces the torn ACL with a tendon graft.

ACL surgery is performed using knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions, a camera, and small instruments to repair or reconstruct the ACL. Newer techniques and innovative implants continue to help patients get back to activity quickly and safely. If reconstruction is necessary, a tendon graft may need to be harvested and prepared.

Want to dive deeper? Take a look at some of the bonus educational videos to sharpen your understanding of ACL tears.