ACL Repair Causes, Treatment, Repair Cost & Recovery

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial ligament that stabilises the knee joint. It is responsible for preventing excessive forward movement of the tibia bone in relation to the femur bone. An ACL tear is a common sports injury that requires surgical repair. In this blog, we will discuss the causes, treatment, repair cost, and recovery of an ACL reconstruction.

Causes of ACL Tears

An ACL tear can occur due to various reasons, such as:

1. Sports injuries: Athletes who play high-impact sports, such as soccer, basketball, or football, are at a higher risk of sustaining an ACL tear due to sudden stops, pivots, or changes in direction.
2. Trauma: An ACL tear can also occur due to a fall, a car accident, or other traumatic events that cause excessive force or pressure on the knee joint.
3. Overuse: Repeated stress on the knee joint due to activities such as long-distance running or jumping can also increase the risk of an ACL tear.

Treatment Options for ACL Tear

The treatment for an ACL tear depends on the severity of the injury. In some cases, non-surgical treatment methods may be sufficient, while in other cases, surgery may be required.

1. Non-surgical treatment: Non-surgical treatment options include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) therapy, physiotherapy, and pain management. Protocol Based Physiotherapy is paramount to regain functional independence and patients with ACL injury are always advised to undergo such exercises to improve knee stability.
   
2. Surgical treatment: In cases where the ACL tear is high grade, with significant instability symptoms in the knee, surgery is necessary. ACL reconstruction surgery involves reconstructing the damaged ligament with a tissue graft, typically taken from the patient’s hamstring or patellar tendon. The procedure is done as keyhole surgery (Knee Arthroscopy)

Repair Cost for ACL Reconstruction

The cost of ACL reconstruction surgery can vary depending on various factors, such as the degree of instability, the additional injuries, the type of surgery, country of the surgery. Typically in India, the cost of an ACL reconstruction surgery can range from Rs 2.25 – 3.5 lakhs which include hospital fees, anesthesia fees, surgeon fees, and implant costs.

Recovery from ACL Reconstruction Surgery

The recovery time after ACL reconstruction surgery is different for professional vs non-professional athletes. In a professional athlete recommended time to return to sports is 6 months, however, we can bring it down to 4 months.  

Typically, patients can resume normal activities within 3 to 5 weeks and return to sports is 4-6 months. During the recovery period, physical therapy is necessary to regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the knee joint.

In conclusion, an ACL tear is a common sports injury that can be severely debilitating to the focus sportsmen or women. Treatment options depend on the severity of the injury and include non-surgical or surgical options. The cost of ACL reconstruction surgery is covered by insurance and the recovery from surgery can take 6 weeks to 3 months with accurate surgical treatment, proper post-operative care, and coordinated physiotherapy, patients regain full functionality in the knee joint.

For more details, consult with Dr Gautam Tawari – the top Orthopaedic Sports Surgeon in Mumbai. To book an appointment, you can call +91 9833944575 or send an email to gautamtawari@gmail.com.