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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAnterior cruciate (KROO-she-ate) ligament (ACL) reconstruction is surgery to repair a tear in your ACL, one of the major ligaments in your knee. An ACL reconstruction may help an athlete get back on the field, but many people with torn ACLs can continue normal activity without ACL reconstruction.
Tearing of the ACL is the most common knee ligament injury. Sports and fitness routines that involve running, pivoting, turning and jumping lead to many torn ACLS.
The ACL is one of the main stabilizing ligaments of your knee. It prevents the lower leg bone (tibia) from going too far forward. Once torn, the ACL won't heal, so fusing the torn ends is not an option. With ACL reconstruction, the torn ligament's function is not restored. ACL reconstruction involves creating a new ACL from grafted tissue.
- Clark JC, et al. Primary ACL reconstruction using allograft tissue. Clinical Sports Medicine. 2009;28:223.
- Anterior cruciate ligament injuries. In: Canale ST: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:2496.
- Muscle and tendon injuries. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 8th ed. Columbus, Ohio.: McGraw-Hill; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=820647. Accessed Sept. 30, 2009.
- Fu F, et al. Current trends in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction part 1: Biology and biomechanics of reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1999;27:821.
- ACL injury: Does it require surgery? American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00297. Accessed Oct. 1, 2009.
- Friedberg RP. Anterior cruciate ligament injury. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct.1, 2009.
- Spindler KP, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament tear. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359:2135.
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