ACL Reconstruction
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can leave your knee unstable, making it difficult to twist, turn, or return to sports. At Welbeck, our specialist knee surgeons use the latest key hole techniques to rebuild the ACL, and restore your knee’s stability, mobility, and confidence.
At a glance
- Consultation required
- Paediatric Patients Aged 12-18 Seen
- Health insurance
- Self-Pay Available
What is ACL reconstruction?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the key ligaments inside your knee joint. It connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shin bone (tibia), and helps prevent excessive forward or twisting motion of the knee.
ACL damage most often occurs in people who play sports, but it can also happen from a simple twist or sudden movement during everyday activities. When the ligament tears, it rarely heals fully on its own, so reconstruction surgery may be needed. This procedure replaces the torn ligament with a graft, usually taken from your hamstring tendon, patella tendon, or, in selected cases, donor tissue. The operation is performed as keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery under general or spinal anaesthetic.
Your consultant may recommend ACL reconstruction if:
your knee is unstable or “gives way” during everyday activities or sport
you wish to return to pivoting sports (such as football, rugby or skiing), or manual work
you have other knee damage (for example, a meniscus or cartilage injury) alongside an ACL tear
If your knee can be stabilised with physiotherapy alone, surgery can sometimes be delayed or avoided. Your consultant will work with you to decide if surgery is the right choice depending on your activity level, lifestyle, and recovery goals.
At Welbeck, our orthopaedic consultants specialise in knee ligament reconstruction and sports injury management. In the absence of other injuries, outcomes are excellent, even allowing professional athletes to return to the highest levels of competitive sport. You’ll receive care in our state-of-the-art Surgery Centre, with seamless access to diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation, all under one roof.
Paediatrics
We offer appointments to paediatric patients aged 12 to 18. For full information on our paediatrics service, please visit our main Paediatrics page.
More information
When you arrive for your procedure, you’ll be greeted by our clinical team and guided through the check-in process. Your consultant and anaesthetist will review your medical history, answer any last questions, and confirm the details of your surgery. You’ll then be shown to a private room where you can change into a hospital gown and relax before the surgery.
When you’re ready, your anaesthetist will administer either a general anaesthetic (so you’ll be asleep) or a spinal anaesthetic (which numbs the lower body while you remain awake but comfortable). Throughout your procedure, our team will monitor you closely to ensure you’re safe and comfortable.
During the procedure:
Your surgeon will examine your knee to check the damage to your ACL and other surrounding ligaments.
Your surgeon will make between 2 and 4 small incisions around the knee and will use an arthroscope (a surgical tool with a camera and a light attached) to view inside the knee.
Torn ACL fibres will be removed.
Tunnels will be drilled into the femur and tibia to hold the graft tissue.
The graft will be positioned and secured with screws or other suspensory devices.
If other damage is present (such as a meniscus tear), your surgeon can often repair this during the same procedure.
Your surgeon will close the incisions and apply dressings.
ACL reconstruction typically takes between 1 and 3 hours. Once the surgery is complete, you’ll be taken to recovery and will be able to relax and recover from your anaesthetic in private, comfortable surroundings, supported by our specialist nursing team.
ACL reconstruction is generally a very safe procedure, but as with all surgery, there are some risks.
Risks of ACL reconstruction include:
pain or numbness
infection, bleeding, or other problems at the incision sites
stiffness or loss of full knee movement
graft failure (such as stretch, elongation or re-rupture)
deep vein thrombosis (blood clot)
If your knee has any signs of early arthritis, there’s a danger that stabilising the joint by reconstruction can make it painful. Your surgeon will fully evaluate your joint with scans and arthroscopy before deciding on whether surgical reconstruction is the best choice for you.
Leading up to your surgery, you’ll be given a physiotherapy plan to strengthen the surrounding muscles, and restore as much motion as possible, as this will help to improve the outcome of surgery.
Before your ACL reconstruction, you should:
stop smoking
follow your pre-operative physiotherapy plan
follow specific advice about not eating and drinking before your anaesthetic
arrange for someone to collect you after the procedure
Once you’ve recovered from your anaesthetic, you’ll be able to go home the same day, although you’ll need someone to collect you. If you work in an office, you can normally return to work within a short time, but if your job involves physical activity or manual labour, returning to work will take several months.
You’ll leave with small dressings over your wounds, and your surgeon will explain when to remove them and how to manage any discomfort at home. In some cases, you may be advised to use crutches or a knee brace for extra support in the early stages.
Everyone’s recovery is different, and your care doesn’t end when your surgery is complete. At Welbeck, you’ll have ongoing access to expert physiotherapy and rehabilitation, tailored to your specific goals.
The graft used to reconstruct your ligament acts as a scaffold for new healthy tissue to grow on to. It temporarily becomes weaker before strengthening again as it heals. For this reason, returning to full, pre-injury activity takes time – even professional athletes typically require around 9 months, and a structured post-operative rehabilitation programme before returning to sport.
Please contact our Surgery Centre for pricing information.
At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
To book an ACL reconstruction, you must be referred by either your GP or an orthopaedic surgeon following a consultation with them. Self-referrals are not accepted for this treatment.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
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Frequently asked questions
In the early stages of recovery, climbing stairs can put extra strain on the knee and graft, so it’s important to take care. Your physiotherapist will teach you safe techniques to manage stairs, especially in the early days. If your bedroom is upstairs, you may wish to set up a temporary sleeping space downstairs until you’re confident on your feet. As your recovery progresses, you’ll gradually return to normal stair use under guidance from your physiotherapist.
If your knee is injured again after ACL reconstruction, it’s important to contact your consultant as soon as possible. In some cases, the graft can stretch or tear, especially if the injury occurs before the ligament has fully healed. Your specialist will arrange imaging, such as an MRI scan, to assess the graft and surrounding structures. Not all setbacks require another operation; sometimes the knee can recover with targeted physiotherapy. If further surgery is needed, your consultant will explain the options clearly and tailor the approach to your activity level and goals.
A torn ACL can cause instability, leading to additional injuries to the cartilage or meniscus, which in turn can increase the chance of developing arthritis later in life. Reconstructing a torn ACL can reduce the risk of long-term damage to the knee joint, but it doesn’t completely remove the risk of developing arthritis. Your consultant and physiotherapist will guide you on how to maintain your joint health in the long term.
You can usually start driving again around 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, but this depends on which leg was operated on, how quickly your strength returns, and whether you can perform an emergency stop safely. If your left knee was operated on and you drive an automatic car, you may be able to return sooner. Your consultant or physiotherapist will assess your progress before confirming when it’s safe for you to drive. You’ll also need to check with your insurance provider, as usually they’ll require medical clearance before you’re insured to drive again.