< Knee

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a strong ligament within the knee joint. It stabilizes the knee and is important for staying active in sports and walking. ACL tears often occur from falls or with quick, twisting or pivoting motions when the foot is planted.

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What is a Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear?

Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

The ACL is one of the main stabilizers of the knee joint. When this ligament is torn, pain, swelling, and knee instability can develop. These symptoms can make movements like walking, running, squatting, and going up and down stairs difficult and painful.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Overview
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear Treatment

With and Without Surgery

Treatment for an ACL tear depends on the severity and location of the tear as well as the patient’s age and activity level. Significant ACL tears may require surgery to restore function. Physical therapy plays an important role in rehabilitation of all ACL tears, whether surgery is needed or not.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Treatment Options
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear Surgery

Surgical Animation

There are two options for surgery for a torn ACL. An ACL repair reattaches the torn ACL back to bone, while an ACL reconstruction replaces the torn ACL with a tendon graft.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction Using an All-Inside Soft-Tissue Graft Animation 3m

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Repair Using a Suture Implant Animation 3m

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction With Biologics Animation 3m

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear Surgery

Surgical Demonstrations

ACL surgery is performed using knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions, a camera, and small instruments to repair or reconstruct the ACL. Newer techniques and innovative implants continue to help patients get back to activity quickly and safely. If reconstruction is necessary, a tendon graft may need to be harvested and prepared.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction Using a Quadriceps Tendon Graft 3m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Technique for Quadriceps Graft Harvest 3m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Quadriceps Tendon Graft Preparation 2m
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction Using a Hamstring Tendon Graft 3m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Technique for Hamstring Graft Harvest 2m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Hamstring Tendon Graft Preparation 2m
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction Using a Bone-Tendon-Bone Graft 2m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Technique for Bone-Tendon-Bone Graft Harvest 2m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Bone-Tendon-Bone Graft Preparation 2m
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Repair Using Suture and Bone Anchors 4m	Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Repair Using a Suture Implant 5m

Additional Educational Resources

Want to dive deeper? Take a look at some of the bonus educational videos to sharpen your understanding of ACL tears.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears: Understanding ACL Tears 6m

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: BTB ACL Reconstruction With Tensionable Suture Implant and Absorbable Screw Animation 2m

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: ACL Reconstruction for Pediatrics Animation 3m