Anterior cruciate 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.
