ACL Injury Treatment

What is an ACL Injury?

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a critical stabilizing structure in the knee that prevents excessive forward movement of the tibia (shin bone) and rotational instability. ACL injuries commonly occur during sudden stops, changes in direction, landing awkwardly from jumps, or direct contact to the knee. These injuries are particularly common in sports like football, basketball, soccer, and skiing. When torn, the ACL cannot heal on its own due to limited blood supply, often necessitating surgical reconstruction for patients who wish to return to active lifestyles.

Advanced Reconstruction Techniques

Dr. Abhishek Saxena employs the latest anatomic reconstruction techniques to restore natural knee function. Our approach utilizes minimally invasive arthroscopic methods combined with sophisticated graft placement to recreate the original ACL's position and tension. We offer multiple graft options, including hamstring tendon, patellar tendon, and quadriceps tendon autografts, as well as carefully selected allografts when appropriate. Each reconstruction is precisely customized to the patient's anatomy, activity goals, and specific injury pattern.

Comprehensive ACL Treatment

• Complete ACL tears requiring reconstruction
• Partial ACL tears with instability
• ACL injuries with associated meniscus tears
• Multi-ligament knee injuries (ACL + MCL, PCL, etc.)
• ACL revision surgery for failed prior reconstructions
• ACL injuries in growing adolescents with specialized techniques

Our ACL Treatment Approach

Our comprehensive ACL program includes:

• Advanced MRI and dynamic stability assessment
• Pre-surgical "prehabilitation" to optimize outcomes
• Anatomic single-bundle or double-bundle reconstruction
• Concurrent treatment of associated injuries (meniscus, cartilage)
• Accelerated rehabilitation protocols
• Sport-specific return-to-play assessment
• Injury prevention training upon recovery

Recovery and Outcomes

Recovery from ACL reconstruction typically follows a graduated timeline. Patients begin controlled range-of-motion exercises within days after surgery and progress to weight-bearing activities within 1-2 weeks. Strengthening exercises intensify at 6-12 weeks, with running typically resuming around 3-4 months. Return to pivoting sports generally occurs between 7-9 months, following comprehensive strength and stability testing. Our patients consistently achieve excellent outcomes, with over 90% successfully returning to their desired activity levels. Long-term follow-up shows high satisfaction rates and significantly reduced risk of re-injury when compared to national averages.