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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care
- 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’
- Appointments confirmed within 24 hours
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ACL RECONSTRUCTION AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
A damaged or torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be painful and severely affect your mobility. We’re here to help put that right. Our dedicated knee consultants will use state-of-the-art imaging technology to diagnose exactly what’s happened to your ACL and work out the precise surgery you need. You’ll receive personalised, expert treatment and care at every stage of the process, and we’ll get you moving freely again as soon as possible.
It’s why 97% of our orthopaedic patients would happily recommend us to their family and friends.
It’s why 97% of our orthopaedic patients would happily recommend us to their family and friends.
Your ACL is a major ligament in your knee that connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). It’s common for that ligament to get torn or sprained by sudden stops or changes of direction when you’re moving, typically from sport or vigorous physical activity.
ACL reconstruction surgery is a procedure that removes the torn or strained ligament and replaces it either with tendon tissue from another part of your body (autograft) or using donated tendon tissue (allograft).
ACL reconstruction surgery is a procedure that removes the torn or strained ligament and replaces it either with tendon tissue from another part of your body (autograft) or using donated tendon tissue (allograft).
If you play a lot of sports, you have a physical job or you regularly move in a way that means you twist, turn and put a lot of weight through your knees, this can often be the cause of any strain or tear in your ACL. Even if that damage doesn’t cause significant pain, your knee will continue to deteriorate if it isn’t treated and might need more serious surgery or a total replacement later on.
If you have damage or pain in other parts of your knee, ACL reconstruction surgery can also help by making your knee more stable.
ACL reconstruction surgery can get you back to:
If you have damage or pain in other parts of your knee, ACL reconstruction surgery can also help by making your knee more stable.
ACL reconstruction surgery can get you back to:
- Playing high-impact sports or intense physical activity
- A physically demanding job
- More stability in your injured knee, preventing or slow further deterioration
ACL reconstruction starts with an arthroscopy. Your surgeon will make a small incision in your knee and insert a tiny camera so they can see the inside of your knee joint.
They’ll inject sterile fluid into the joint that expands it and makes it easier for them to see and move the camera around. They’ll carefully examine your entire knee joint to see the full extent of any damage and might take photographs to help with your aftercare or any future surgery.
Your damaged or torn ligament will be replaced either with tissue from other tendons in your body or donated tenson tissue. If multiple ligaments need replacing, or a previous surgery has failed, your surgeon might use synthetic tissue.
The process involves drilling tiny holes into the bones your new ligaments connect to, and securing those new ligaments with screws, buttons or staples which stay permanently in place. Your surgeon will move your knee around with the camera still inside to check that your new ligaments are secure and that you have the fullest possible range of movement.
Your surgery usually happens under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
They’ll inject sterile fluid into the joint that expands it and makes it easier for them to see and move the camera around. They’ll carefully examine your entire knee joint to see the full extent of any damage and might take photographs to help with your aftercare or any future surgery.
Your damaged or torn ligament will be replaced either with tissue from other tendons in your body or donated tenson tissue. If multiple ligaments need replacing, or a previous surgery has failed, your surgeon might use synthetic tissue.
The process involves drilling tiny holes into the bones your new ligaments connect to, and securing those new ligaments with screws, buttons or staples which stay permanently in place. Your surgeon will move your knee around with the camera still inside to check that your new ligaments are secure and that you have the fullest possible range of movement.
Your surgery usually happens under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
ACL reconstruction surgery is a very common procedure, and the chances of complications are low. But all surgery carries some risk of infection, bleeding or an adverse reaction to anaesthetic.
Specific risks associated with this surgery, include:
Specific risks associated with this surgery, include:
- The new ligament being misplaced, fixed at the incorrect tension or fixed insecurely, leaving your knee unstable or prone to other injuries
- Re-injury during your recovery, particularly if you return to sport or intense physical activity in the first two years
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist knee consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
ACL RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY
What to expect
If your ACL is torn or strained, that instability in your knee can make life difficult and painful, as well as keeping you from work or the sport you love. We’re here to give you the best possible chance of getting back to an active life without pain.
You’ll be treated by a leading knee specialist and cared for by a multi-disciplinary team, who’ll give you an accurate diagnosis, expert surgical treatment and all the support you need.
You’ll be treated by a leading knee specialist and cared for by a multi-disciplinary team, who’ll give you an accurate diagnosis, expert surgical treatment and all the support you need.
01
Initial GP consultation
The process should always begin with a visit to your GP. They’ll ask you about your medical history, your overall health and lifestyle, and the specific issues you’re having with your knee. It’s the first step to determine how much pain you’re in, how much your mobility’s being affected and whether you’ve had any previous knee treatments or surgery. Your GP might recommend non-surgical treatments such as medication, exercises or physiotherapy if they think surgery can be avoided or postponed. If not, they’ll refer you to a knee specialist.
02
Investigation and diagnostics
Your consultant will thoroughly examine your knee, check your range of movement and ask about your pain levels. They might recommend resting it or having additional physiotherapy to reduce any swelling, because that will make the operation easier. They’ll also ask for an X-ray or an MRI scan to get as detailed a picture as possible of the inside of your knee joint before operating.
03
The reconstruction surgery
Most people have ACL reconstruction under general anaesthetic, but it can sometimes be done under an epidural, which just numbs the lower half of your body. Your consultant will discuss your procedure and the options in detail and so you can agree on the best way forward.
It’s best to arrive for the surgery with a family member or friend who can help you get home later that day, and to bring any medications you regularly take. The operation itself usually takes around 2-2.5 hours in total.
It’s best to arrive for the surgery with a family member or friend who can help you get home later that day, and to bring any medications you regularly take. The operation itself usually takes around 2-2.5 hours in total.
04
Aftercare and recovery
After your surgery, you’ll be taken to your private room to recover. When your anaesthetic has worn off, we’ll give you pain relief if you need it, and something to eat and drink.
When you’re ready, a member of the physiotherapy team will give you a set of crutches, and help you get used to using them. Your care team will also talk you through any medications you need and any exercises you can do at home to help speed your recovery.
Once your team’s happy that you’re comfortable and able to get around on your crutches, your friend or family member can take you home. We’ll make sure not to send discharge you until we’re sure you’re able to get around safely. You might still need a little help from friends or family to do your shopping or carry out other daily tasks once you’re home, depending on how fast you recover.
When you’re ready, a member of the physiotherapy team will give you a set of crutches, and help you get used to using them. Your care team will also talk you through any medications you need and any exercises you can do at home to help speed your recovery.
Once your team’s happy that you’re comfortable and able to get around on your crutches, your friend or family member can take you home. We’ll make sure not to send discharge you until we’re sure you’re able to get around safely. You might still need a little help from friends or family to do your shopping or carry out other daily tasks once you’re home, depending on how fast you recover.
Locations
Expert consultants and dedicated teams are ready to diagnose and treat your knee at a range of convenient locations across London and at our flagship hospitals in Birmingham and Manchester.
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
ACL reconstruction surgery FAQ
Most ACL injuries fall into one of these three categories, and surgery isn’t always necessary.
Grade 1 – a sprain
This is when your ACL ligament’s been twisted or wrenched, causing swelling and pain. It’s less serious than a partial or total tear, which means it should respond well to rest and anti-inflammatory medication. A grade 1 ACL injury should mean that you can avoid knee surgery.
Grade 2 – a partial tear
This means your ACL ligament’s torn, but it’s still intact. It’s the rarest form of ACL injury, but physical therapy can help to strengthen the area around the tear, and it’s possible to recover without surgery in around three months or so.
Grade 3 – a complete tear
This is when your ACL has torn into two separate pieces. It’s a serious injury, but the need for surgery depends on your lifestyle and circumstances. If you’re a professional athlete or you have a very physically demanding job, you’ll need surgery to get the full function of your knee back. If not, you might choose to live with any pain or reduced mobility in your knee. However, an untreated total tear can leave your knee in a weak condition, with a risk that it regularly gives way and causes long-term pain.
When you talk to your consultant, they’ll discuss your specific circumstances and help you decide the best treatment.
If you decide to opt for surgery, your consultant will explain the type of replacement tissue they’ll use (yours, a donor’s or synthetic tissue), the likelihood of success, and how long it might take before you’re ready to play sports or get back to an active job.
Grade 1 – a sprain
This is when your ACL ligament’s been twisted or wrenched, causing swelling and pain. It’s less serious than a partial or total tear, which means it should respond well to rest and anti-inflammatory medication. A grade 1 ACL injury should mean that you can avoid knee surgery.
Grade 2 – a partial tear
This means your ACL ligament’s torn, but it’s still intact. It’s the rarest form of ACL injury, but physical therapy can help to strengthen the area around the tear, and it’s possible to recover without surgery in around three months or so.
Grade 3 – a complete tear
This is when your ACL has torn into two separate pieces. It’s a serious injury, but the need for surgery depends on your lifestyle and circumstances. If you’re a professional athlete or you have a very physically demanding job, you’ll need surgery to get the full function of your knee back. If not, you might choose to live with any pain or reduced mobility in your knee. However, an untreated total tear can leave your knee in a weak condition, with a risk that it regularly gives way and causes long-term pain.
When you talk to your consultant, they’ll discuss your specific circumstances and help you decide the best treatment.
If you decide to opt for surgery, your consultant will explain the type of replacement tissue they’ll use (yours, a donor’s or synthetic tissue), the likelihood of success, and how long it might take before you’re ready to play sports or get back to an active job.
It’s possible to treat and manage some ACL injuries without surgery, depending on how severe the damage is and how much it affects your everyday life. The following treatments can help:
- RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This can reduce swelling and pain
- Over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen can help reduce or limit swelling, and manage the pain from your injury
- Supportive equipment such as a knee brace can help compress your knee to prevent swelling and regulate your movement, so you can use your knee gently without causing any further damage
- Changing your activity to avoid placing unnecessary strain on your damaged knee and help your recovery. That means taking a long break from high-impact sports like tennis or football, or from demanding physical work.
If you’ve sprained or suffered a minor tear to your ACL, there are treatment options that can potentially help you avoid surgery, such as medication or a knee brace. It depends on whether there is any blood flow to your damaged ligament. If there isn’t, it won’t heal by itself, and you’ll likely need surgery to repair it.
The surgery itself will be carried out either under general anaesthetic or (rarely) under an epidural, so you won’t experience any pain during the operation. Sometimes an additional local anaesthetic is administered near the end of the operation to reduce the pain as you come out of surgery.
You’ll probably feel pain after the operation and as you start to move around, but your team will give you any medication you need to help manage it. Every patient is different, so your experience will depend on the level of damage to your knee, your overall health, how much you move and how quickly your knee heals.
You’ll probably feel pain after the operation and as you start to move around, but your team will give you any medication you need to help manage it. Every patient is different, so your experience will depend on the level of damage to your knee, your overall health, how much you move and how quickly your knee heals.
Yes, it is. It’s a common procedure but it can also be serious one, and you’ll usually have a general anaesthetic beforehand. It can also take a long time for you to fully recover. ACL reconstruction has a very high success rate, but like any surgery, it does carry risks of complications.
Total recovery will mean different things to different people. For example, if you’re looking to return to professional sports or a physically demanding job, your recovery will be different from someone who puts fewer demands on their knee.
You should be able to get around on crutches before you leave the hospital, and the incisions from the surgery should heal within a few weeks. It can take anywhere between six months to a year for your knee to feel better. The type of surgery you’ve had and your overall health will affect those timescales.
Your consultant and the specialist team at HCA UK will give you any medication you need, and tailor a specific programme of physiotherapy exercises to strengthen your knee and improve your mobility.
Most people can drive after about a month. Once you’re comfortable putting your full weight on your affected leg, you should be able to drive.
Returning to work can vary hugely depending on what you do. If your job doesn’t involve anything physically demanding, you’ll be able to work again sooner. If you have a physical job, or you’re a professional sportsperson, you’ll have to wait longer, because your ligament needs to be completely ready before you subject it to serious impact.
Athletes usually need at least a year out to recover well.
Returning to work can vary hugely depending on what you do. If your job doesn’t involve anything physically demanding, you’ll be able to work again sooner. If you have a physical job, or you’re a professional sportsperson, you’ll have to wait longer, because your ligament needs to be completely ready before you subject it to serious impact.
Athletes usually need at least a year out to recover well.
It’s important to try and sleep in the right position when you’re recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery. It will prevent your knee joint from swelling, and help you recover faster.
In the first few days and weeks after your surgery, you should try to sleep on your back with your recovering knee elevated so that it’s higher than your heart. You can use pillows or a cushion under your heel or lower leg. If you’ve been given a knee brace to wear, keep it on at night.
After three weeks or so, any swelling should have subsided, and you can try sleeping on your side if that’s what you prefer. If you do, make sure to sleep on the side that keeps your recovering knee on top, and you can also put a cushion or pillow between your knees for extra protection. Avoid sleeping on your stomach if you can, as this can put unnecessary pressure on your knee.
It's not always easy or possible follow this advice, as we often move around in our sleep without knowing. The most important element is to listen to your body and try to find a way to sleep that minimises any pain or discomfort. If you’re having trouble managing your pain, get in touch with your consultant.
In the first few days and weeks after your surgery, you should try to sleep on your back with your recovering knee elevated so that it’s higher than your heart. You can use pillows or a cushion under your heel or lower leg. If you’ve been given a knee brace to wear, keep it on at night.
After three weeks or so, any swelling should have subsided, and you can try sleeping on your side if that’s what you prefer. If you do, make sure to sleep on the side that keeps your recovering knee on top, and you can also put a cushion or pillow between your knees for extra protection. Avoid sleeping on your stomach if you can, as this can put unnecessary pressure on your knee.
It's not always easy or possible follow this advice, as we often move around in our sleep without knowing. The most important element is to listen to your body and try to find a way to sleep that minimises any pain or discomfort. If you’re having trouble managing your pain, get in touch with your consultant.
Our patients’ stories
Decades of pain, resolved in weeks
Now 46, Mike had been struggling with knee problems since he tore his right ACL during a football match at the age of 19.
How knee surgery got one avid skier back on the slopes
As a frequent skier and active young professional in the city, Gaëlle loves running and exercise classes to keep fit, but her love of these activities has come at a price – her knee. A previous skiing accident damaged her meniscus and her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and left her in so much pain that she couldn’t ski, so Gaëlle started looking around at treatment options.
Hana's recovery: Roaring back from a serious knee injury
Hana was a fearsome player on the pitch, but her commitment came at a price. In 2018 she tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and was seen by Mr Simon Thompson. He helped her get back to playing at a competitive level and Hana got to wear the England jersey she’d dreamed of. So, when she then suffered a meniscal tear in 2020, she knew who she was going to see.
“I was the kind of person that loved intense workouts. Remembering now how restricted I was when I couldn’t jump, couldn’t work out, it’s difficult to recall. But I’ve spoken to my physiotherapists and my doctor and I’m able to be back on my skis for the next ski season – I just can’t believe it!”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.