If your knee continually gives way after an ACL rupture, reconstruction offers the chance of improving the stability of your knee in everyday life and in sporting activities. 

What is the anterior cruciate ligament?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the important ligaments that stabilise your knee (see figure 1). If you have torn (ruptured) this ligament, the knee can collapse or ‘give way’ when making twisting or turning movements.

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 a 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.

Watch video

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

The physiotherapist can give you exercises to strengthen and improve the co-ordination of the muscles in your thigh.

Wearing a knee brace can sometimes help while you are playing sports.

What does the operation involve?

Various anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes an hour to 90 minutes.

Your surgeon will make one or more cuts around your knee. Most surgeons perform the operation by an arthroscopy (keyhole surgery), using a camera to see inside your knee.
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.

What complications can happen?

General complications
• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection of the surgical site (wound)
• Unsightly scarring
• Blood clots
• Difficulty passing urine

Specific complications
• Break of the kneecap
• Damage to nerves around the knee
• Infection in the knee joint
• Discomfort in the front of the knee
• Loss of knee movement
• The knee keeps giving way
• Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of the knee (complex regional pain syndrome)

 

Download information leaflet

ACL Reconstruction 

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This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.

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Guide price for self pay patients

Autograft Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament

  Consultation Diagnostics Treatment Care after discharge
Hospital costs Included £350 £6330 Included
Consultant costs £220 Included Included Included
Estimated total cost  £6900
Estimated length of stay  1 night
*The guide price is correct as of 2nd March 2017

What's included

The prices in the table above (the “Guide Prices”) show what most patients should expect to pay at each appointment and on admission to hospital. The Guide Prices 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. Your price quotation will be made clear to you before you proceed with any tests, consultations or treatment.

Finance options available

To make private healthcare more accessible, we have introduced a finance option so that patients can spread the cost of their treatment over a period of time.

Horder Healthcare works with Zebra Health Finance to offer approved customers Finance Options, enabling you to get back on your feet and back to normal life as soon as possible.

Zebra Health Finance offers finance plans to suit your individual budgets:

  • Representative 0% APR up to 6 months
  • Representative 16.9% APR from 12 to 60 months
  • Simple and quick application process
  • Once approved, the loan money is paid directly to Horder Healthcare

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Copyright © 2018 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this webpage is produced using information from EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by the Horder Centre. The information should not replace advice that your relevant health professional would give you.

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