ACL injuries commonly occur during high-impact sports such as tennis, rugby, soccer and squash. For example, an ACL injury can occur as a result of the following:

• Improper landing from a sudden fall
• Sudden stop
• An unexpected change in direction
• Colliding with another person during a soccer/rugby match

If you tear your ACL, your knee will lose its stability and range of motion. Depending on the nature of the injury, Dr Vardi may need to surgically repair the ACL if there is a secondary knee injury and if the quality of life is affected.

How do you surgically reconstruct the ACL?

Unfortunately, you cannot stitch back a torn ACL. However, your orthopaedic surgeon utilises a graft to recreate and reattach a torn ACL. The ACL can be rebuilt by removing the damaged ligament and using a tendon removed from another leg region, such as the patellar tendon or tendon from the hamstring. The patellar tendon connects the lower end of the kneecap to the top part of the tibia.

After reconstructive ACL surgery, you can still expect knee instability or knee pain. Usually, you can expect a full recovery within a year after surgery with physiotherapy as part of the treatment.

When should you consider ACL reconstructive surgery?

The need to perform surgery depends on the extent of the injury, quality of life and mobility that meets the standards of a specific lifestyle. By delaying surgery, the injury is more likely to worsen, which leads to progressive knee instability.