ACL Reconstruction is an effective arthroscopic surgical treatment for those experiencing chronic knee pain and weakness as a result of a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). The ACL can not be sewn back together by itself, so a graft will be used. Depending upon the patient’s age and nature of injury, this graft can be taken from either the patellar tendon of the knee or the hamstring tendon in the thigh.
To begin ACL Reconstruction, one or more small incisions are made around the knee area where the pencil sized cameras and surgical instruments will be inserted. Next, a clear sterile fluid is injected that allows the surgeon to visualize the area in greater detail.
Once the torn ACL has been verified, small surgical instruments are used to trim the torn portion of the ACL. Next, small tunnels are made in the surrounding bone so that the new ligament can be threaded through these tunnels. This threading process allows for stability and strength of the newly reconstructed ACL.
Now that the portions of the ACL have been properly threaded, specialized surgical sutures are used to reconstruct the ACL using the tissue graft. These sutures are strong and flexible and allow for the ACL to remain as one complete ligament.
