ACL Tear Repair

Age and Activity Level
When the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is torn or stretched out of shape, it leads to knee instability. This will feel like your knee is buckling or giving way, particularly with activities that involve pivoting or cutting. If you’re older, sedentary, and engage in mostly straight-line activities like cycling or jogging, physical therapy may be all you need. Younger people who want to remain active or return to jumping, cutting, or twisting activities will benefit from ACL surgery combined with physical therapy before and after surgery.

Thorough Exam Determines Extent of Injury
A thorough examination, including X-rays and MRI, will determine if you suffered a knee ligament or another knee injury. If it’s an isolated MCL, PCL, or LCL ligament injury, knee surgery may not be necessary. Our experience shows that when these injuries occur in isolation, they often can heal on their own better and faster with knee bracing, early motion, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication. When these injuries are combined with an ACL injury, surgery may be recommended.

Your knee relies on four major ligaments to keep it stable.

• The ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are in the center of your knee. The ACL prevents the knee from sliding forward, and the PCL stabilizes the knee from backward movement.
• The medial collateral ligament (MCL) controls stability of the inner (medial) knee. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) stabilizes the outer (lateral) knee.

When to Make an Appointment
A popping sensation and sound with knee swelling during physical activity probably mean you’ve torn your ACL or had another knee injury. You should seek prompt medical attention. 

Visit Duke Orthopaedics Urgent Care
Our convenient orthopaedic urgent care clinic is open seven days a week. Get fast service with no long waits and no unnecessary exposure to illness. No appointment is needed, and walk-ins are welcome.

A Team of Knee Specialists
Duke knee specialists include primary care sports medicine specialists, orthopaedic physician assistants, ACL surgeons, and physical therapists who specialize in knee injuries associated with specific sports. We understand how pivoting and sudden stops and starts lead to torn ACLs and how to strengthen your knee to minimize your risk of re-injury. 

You Benefit from Our Ongoing Research and Innovation
Duke Orthopaedics pioneered several surgical breakthroughs, including novel fracture repairs and advanced surgical techniques.

• Our surgical success is based on decades of ongoing Duke research.
• We are one of a handful of centers in the region to perform the BEAR procedure, a promising, new approach to ACL repair.
• We use sophisticated tools to study patient outcomes, measure surgical success, and fine-tune our techniques to ensure you have the most options and experience the best outcome. 

The Right Graft for Your Injury
Our knee surgeons rely on extensive Duke research and years of experience performing these surgeries when recommending which graft will work best for you. Graft recommendations take into consideration the type of athlete you are, your age, and previous injuries. Our goal is to recommend a graft that minimizes your pain and maximizes your recovery and performance after ACL reconstruction surgery.