UPMC Sports Medicine has been a leader and pioneer in ACL reconstruction surgery and the management of ACL injuries for more than three decades.
The individualized anatomic approach to ACL reconstruction surgery has proven to provide better results and outcomes for patients who need to have their ACL reconstructed after an injury.
The goal of individualized anatomic ACL reconstruction surgery is to restore a patient’s native or original knee anatomy as close as possible so that they can return to their previous level of function and activity.
Most individuals with significant partial and complete tears of their ACL are good candidates for surgical reconstruction, especially:
Surgery to repair a torn ACL is typically not done immediately after the injury and diagnosis has been made. It has been proven through research studies that patients experience the best outcomes when surgery is delayed for a few weeks to allow the knee to calm down and regain normal range of motion.
This delay from the time of injury to when surgery is performed is necessary to allow any swelling and inflammation in the knee to resolve. The exact timing of surgery will vary from patient to patient based on their specific injury. For most individuals who require surgery, the waiting period is approximately two weeks to two months.
Your surgeon will discuss with you the best timing for surgery based on these and other factors specific to your injury and your overall health.