Knee injuries commonly occur for those involved in sports but can also happen if your leg or knee becomes twisted.
If your knee continually gives way after an accident or injury, it could be a sign that your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has ruptured – meaning a significant tear to the ligament that joins your thigh bone and knee joint.
ACL reconstruction offers the chance of improving the stability of your knee in everyday life and sporting activities.
What is the anterior cruciate ligament?
The ACL is one of the important ligaments that stabilise your knee. If you have torn (ruptured) this ligament, the knee can collapse or give way when making twisting or turning movements. You may also find that you are unable to fully extend your leg, impacting your mobility.
Are there any alternatives to ACL reconstruction surgery?
Not all cases of a torn ligament will result in surgery. Physiotherapy can help you with exercises to strengthen and improve the co-ordination of the muscles in your thigh, whilst some people find wearing a knee brace can sometimes help while you are playing sports. However, we would recommend that you always seek advice from your consultant before returning to sports.
How does an ACL rupture happen?
An ACL rupture happens as a result of a twisting injury to your knee. The common causes are contact sports and skiing injuries. You can injure other parts of your knee at the same time such as tearing cartilage or damaging the joint surface.
ACL Injuries and Treatments
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Sam Rajaratnam talks about Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries and the various treatment options available.
What does the operation involve?
Your surgeon will make one or more incisions around your knee. They will usually perform the operation by an arthroscopy (keyhole surgery), using a camera to see inside your knee. The operation usually takes an hour to 90 minutes. Various anaesthetic techniques are possible, which you can discuss with the anaesthetist beforehand.
Your surgeon will replace the ACL with a piece of suitable tissue from another area of your body. The ends of the replacement ligament are fixed with special screws or anchors into holes drilled in the bone.
Two sources of replacement material for ACL reconstruction are commonly used:
- Autografts (employing bone or tissue harvested from the patient's body)
- Allografts (using bone or tissue from another body, either a cadaver or a live donor).
Rehabilitation
The recovery process for the ACL is usually broken down into different phases of rehabilitation. Each phase has its own objectives, however, is intertwined with other phases since the goals are as progressive as the recovery itself. The rehabilitation process is at the pace of the patient and timelines are sometimes given to help give an idea of where one can be during rehabilitation. Timelines are not used to discourage or encourage those who aren’t ready to advance their recovery process. Such acts may cause serious injury or re-injury of the ACL.
Information leaflet
This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.
Acknowledgements
Mr Stephen Milner (DM FRCS (Tr. & Orth.))
Medical Illustration Copyright © Medical-Artist.com
Copyright EIDO Systems International © 2000-2021
The operation and treatment information on this webpage is produced using information from EIDO Systems International and is licensed by Horder Healthcare. The information should not replace the advice that your relevant health professional would give you.
Guide price for self-pay patients
Autograft Reconstruction of ACL
| Estimated Cost * | |
|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | from £220 |
| Diagnostics | from £85 |
| Treatment | from £8,247 |
Estimated total cost from £8,552
Estimated length of stay 1 night
* The guide price is effective from 1st January 2024
What's included
The treatment price includes surgery, a private en-suite room, inpatient physiotherapy when applicable, and follow-up consultation. The initial consultation fee and diagnostics will be charged separately. Our private patients also receive continuity of care up to and including 120 days following surgery.
The guide price is based on the usual clinical needs of patients. The price you pay might be different depending on your medical history and the type of implant you choose or your Consultant advises is best for you. Not all Consultants are signed up to Horder Healthcare’s treatment price, please check prior to your appointment.
Your price quotation will be made clear to you before you proceed with any tests, consultations, or treatment.
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The Horder Centre Price Promise
Our prices will always be totally transparent and when you are quoted an all-inclusive procedure price for your operation it will be inclusive of all costs – with no hidden surprises.
If you find an alternative private hospital in your local area offering a better price for the same procedure, sold with the same service conditions, we’ll lower our price* to equal it.
*terms and conditions apply
* Price Promise terms & conditions:
(1) Initial consultation(s), diagnostic scans/tests and investigations required to establish a diagnosis are not part of your procedure price.
(2) Our price promise does not include Private Patient Units at NHS hospitals.
(3) Local area defined as within 15 miles of The Horder Centre hospital.
(4) We will match against personalised, written quotes only.
(5) Quotations must be less than 90 days old.
(6) Patients must meet the clinical criteria for admission to the Horder Centre.
Consultants that perform this procedure
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