ACL Tear & Reconstruction surgeon in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

A torn ACL does not heal back together on its own. Someone with a partial tear or low physical demands can sometimes manage well with a structured physiotherapy programme that strengthens the muscles around the knee. But for anyone active, playing pivoting sports, or whose knee keeps giving way, reconstruction is recommended - because each episode of instability damages the meniscus and cartilage further.

It is keyhole (minimally invasive) surgery, usually done as a day-care procedure, but because it rebuilds a major ligament using a graft and tunnels drilled in the bone, it is still a significant operation. Most of the pain and swelling settle within the first couple of weeks with regular painkillers, ice and elevation, and the keyhole approach makes recovery far more comfortable than open surgery.

There is no single "best" graft; the right choice depends on you. A hamstring graft is the most common, with a smaller incision and less kneecap pain. A quadriceps graft is thick and strong and is often preferred in larger patients or for revision surgery. Dr. Hiren Patel selects the graft based on your build, your sport and the state of the knee.

Usually not immediately. Surgery is typically done once the initial swelling has settled and the knee has regained its full range of movement, often two to six weeks after injury, because operating on a stiff, swollen knee raises the risk of stiffness afterwards. The exception is a knee locked by an associated meniscus tear, which may need earlier attention.

You will walk with support from day one. Most people are walking without crutches within two to four weeks and with a normal gait by around six to eight weeks. If a meniscus repair was done at the same time, weight-bearing is protected for longer to let the meniscus heal, so the timeline is a little slower.

Pivoting and contact sport is usually resumed at six to nine months, and only after strength and functional testing confirm the knee is ready - not simply because a certain time has passed. Returning too early is the single biggest cause of re-tearing the graft.

Yes, a reconstructed ACL can re-tear, most often when sport is resumed too early or the rehabilitation is left incomplete. Completing the full milestone-based programme and passing strength testing before returning to pivoting sport is the best way to protect the new ligament.

The cost depends on the graft chosen, the fixation implants, whether a meniscus repair is needed at the same time, and whether admission is day-care or overnight. A written, itemised estimate is provided before surgery, and many insurance policies cover ACL reconstruction when it follows an injury.