An anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is an operation to replace a damaged anterior cruciate ligament with a ligament graft or a synthetic ligament.

Page updated July 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

hamstrings graft
endobutton fixation

 

 

Graft options for ACL reconstruction

There are two common options for the graft material:

  • Autograft - using the patient's own tissues for the reconstruction
  • Allograft - using donor tissues rather than the patient's own tissue

Artificial ligaments and xenograft (animal material) remain options but are seldom considered.

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Technical considerations

There are different technical procedures available to the surgeon, but the tendency is towards all-inside single-bundle reconstruction.

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Calf pain after ACL surgery with hamstring graft

Calf pain is common after a hamstrings graft for ACL reconstruction.

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Forum discussions

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Peer-reviewed papers

  • Quote:

    "It is of paramount importance to understand the long-term consequences that develop as a result of an ACL tear....more than 50% of patients that sustain an ACL injury will develop symptomatic OA in the following 10 to 20 years. When combined with a meniscectomy, an ACL tear can further increase the prevalence of OA."

    Citation: Paschos NK, Howell SM. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: principles of treatment. EFORT Open Rev. 2017 Mar 13;1(11):398-408. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.160032. PMID: 28461919; PMCID: PMC5367541.

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Synonyms: 
ACL reconstruction
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...