There are four main ligaments in the knee joint. The two intra-articular (inside the joint) ligaments are the Anterior and Posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL/ PCL). While there are two ligamentous complexes on the inside and the outside of the knee joint (MCL+ POL/ LCL+ PLC). These can be injured in isolation or in combination in various knee injuries depending upon the severity of the force and the position of the knee.

The ACL and PCL are repaired or reconstructed arthroscopically. For reconstruction, I use one of your own tendons from the inside of the lower thigh and create a graft that is looped thro and fixed with small titanium buttons to the tibia and femur. In cases, where the ligament reconstruction fails – I use the quadriceps tendon or the Patellar tendon graft and screws to reconstruct the ligament again.

I prefer a biological All Inside ACL reconstruction in my patients for better healing of the implanted graft. I am also an expert in minimally invasive extra-articular knee surgeries as well E.g. Percutaneous PCL reconstruction, MCL internal bracing/ repair, POL advancement to name a few.

Return to active life and Sports

Most patients are able to walk unaided and comfortably in 2-4 weeks from surgery except in meniscal repair where I insist on avoiding weight bearing for 6 weeks. Light impact activities such as jogging can start in 4-6 months and training for return to sporting activities in 7-8 months.

Generally, it takes at least 9 months to get back to impact sports activities such as football post ACL/PCL reconstructions. Just like pregnancy, prematurity leads to complications. Its essential to allow the new ligament to mature and you should not hurry into going back to sports unless your knee strength is equal or better than the other (non-operated) knee. It’s been shown in various studies that there is a 7 times higher risk of graft failure if sports are begun early.