ACL Repair
If your doctor recommends ACL repair, here is what you should know.
What Is ACL Repair?
During ACL repair, your own tissue is reattached to the bone. ACL repair is the least invasive surgical approach for restoring knee stability, and that is just one of the benefits.
Preservation of Anatomy
Your ACL is preserved, resulting in less injury to your body and no wound on your body from graft harvesting. ACL repair has a lower risk of graft-related complications, such as donor tissue rejection or disease transmission, infections, and knee stiffness.1
More Normal-Feeling Knee
Because ACL repair maintains the tissue and nerve and blood supply, patients report that their knees feel more normal (responding more naturally to the brain’s signal for movement) compared to patients who underwent ACL reconstruction.2 Additionally, patients who underwent an ACL repair are more likely to forget about their injured knee.2
Easier Recovery
Compared to ACL reconstruction, the average recovery time for ACL repair is shorter.3,4 ACL repair has fewer surgical steps (no graft harvesting or bone socket creation), so the procedure can typically be completed more quickly than reconstruction techniques and the patient spends less time under anesthesia. In fact, patients reported experiencing 34% less pain and using 58% fewer narcotics after undergoing ACL repair.5
Some ACL tears cannot be repaired. Speak with your doctor to find out which ACL treatment is right for you.
Is ACL Repair Right for You?
Using the most cutting edge, minimally invasive technology, the Arthrex ACL repair procedure is a powerful tool in the surgeon’s toolbox. Incorporating the latest research on how ACL tear types are identified, surgeons can better decide which patients are likely to have successful outcomes with ACL repair.7 The procedure works best for tears close to the bone (proximal) that have not significantly damaged the ligament tissue.7
Not all sports medicine surgeons perform this innovative procedure. Consult your doctor to see if they perform ACL repair and if you are a good candidate for the procedure. In addition to tear location, your age, activity level, and everyday activities will help your surgeon determine if ACL repair is the right treatment for you. If your ACL tear is not repairable, then all-inside ACL reconstruction is the next least invasive option to treat your ACL injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Surgeons answer your questions about ACL injuries, treatment options, and more.
Can any doctor perform an Arthrex ACL repair procedure?
Arthrex ACL repair is an innovative procedure that not all surgeons perform. Using the latest research-backed cutting-edge technology, the ACL Repair TightRope® implant helps your surgeon precisely repair your ACL with the least invasive approach. But like all surgeries, the Arthrex ACL repair procedure requires extensive training and knowledge to include in a surgeon’s practice. Use the Find a Doctor button to connect with a surgeon who understands the range of treatment options and find out if you qualify for ACL repair surgery.
Can anyone with an ACL tear get an ACL repair?
Only certain types of ACL tears can be repaired. The tear location on the ACL plays a big role in determining whether it should be repaired or reconstructed. Other factors include the quality of the remaining tissue, when the injury occurred, and the patient's age and activity level.
What is ACL repair? What are the benefits?
ACL repair is a minimally invasive procedure that reattaches your torn ligament to the femur bone. Benefits of ACL repair include preserving your own anatomy with less injury to your body, smaller incisions, and less postoperative pain with fewer prescribed narcotics.2 This procedure also allows for earlier return to sport and activity.3