a general rule, the body cannot repair a torn ACL if the tear is complete. Partial tears may sometimes heal but often will progress to becoming complete tears. If surgery is needed, the surgeon will not repair the ligament directly, as this has a low success rate, but will instead use a nearby tendon to reconstruct the original ligament. Your future demands in multi-directional sport.

The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a ligament in the center of your knee. The ACL gets damaged when twisted too far, which makes it a common injury in relation to sports or other physical activity. ACL Reconstruction is performed using a combination of open surgery and arthroscopic surgery. Before ACL reconstruction process begins, your surgeon will examine your knee arthroscopically, and repair any additional damage to the knee, such as a torn meniscus, or worn articular cartilage. See similar questions...

Absolutely. The hips are rarely the cause of acute limping. If the ACLs are torn, your pet is only going to get worse. See similar questions...

Not all dogs require TPLO to restore knee function. Dogs weighing less than 40 pounds may have a different technique, often referred to as a "lateral suture technique", that will work equally well. This technique is not for overweight dogs. The recovery is slower but most dogs acheive almost normal function in the limb. This procedure does not work as well in larger dogs. See similar questions...

No. Many ACL tears can be treated non-operatively. Many factors go into the decision making process. Some patients have ACL tears and no instability symptoms. Others are profoundly symptomatic, even with simple stair climbing, turning and twisting. We do not know why some people are more symptomatic than others, which is why surgery is not the right answer for everybody. See similar questions...

The damaged ACL cannot be sewn back together as it will not heal. A torn ACL will require a reconstructive procedure using transplantable tendons from your body (autografts) such as the hamstring, bone-patella-tendon-bone (BTB) or quadriceps tendons, to reconstruct this torn ligament. Allograft (tissue bank cadaver tissue) tissue is often used with less pain to you and earlier return to function. Both autograft and allograft tendons are acceptable to use for ACL reconstructions. See similar questions...

Not always. Some people are able to function normally without surgery, so long as they have physiotherapy, but others need reconstructive surgery no matter how much physiotherapy they have. Whether or not you have your ACL reconstructed also depends on how active you are, and how your injury impacts on your daily and sporting activities. See similar questions...

The surgery is at our offices or at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, at 2nd Avenue and 14th St. in Manhattan. See similar questions...

Most ACL reconstruction surgeries are done using a single-bundle reconstruction. A single-bundle ACL reconstruction uses a tendon graft to replace the torn ACL. Unfortunately, ACL tears cannot be repaired, or sewn together, and a graft must be used to reconstruct the ligament. When the ACL is reconstructed, the graft is placed in the position of the anteromedial bundle. Grafts are held in place by making a hole in the bone called a tunnel. One tunnel is made in the femur and one in the tibia. See similar questions...

Sometimes it's tough to tell. Even for the doctors. When you tear your ACL it feels a lot "looser" than your good knee. It almost feels like it could pop out of place at any minute. The stability just isn't there. When some people tear their ACL, they hear a "pop" when it happens. It's usually pretty loud and noticeable. This is what happened to me. Although, at the time I had no idea what that "pop" sound meant. If you have a torn ACL it also usually swells up immediately.. See similar questions...

Before surgery, a small tube called an intravenous line will be inserted into your arm to administer antibiotics and other medication. In the operating room, you will be given anesthesia. Once the anesthesia takes effect, your knee will be scrubbed and sterilized. Your surgery will begin with an incision over the knee to expose the joint. The surgeon then uses precision guides and special instruments to remove any damaged surfaces and shape the ends of the bones. See similar questions...

Dr. Rick Schram of Southwest Orthopaedic Group in Austin, Texas, with assistance from Dr. Nick Tsourmas. Unfortunately Dr. Schram is no longer in practice; he switched professions, going back to school to study law. I was 28 years old when I had my first TKR (born in 1969), and my knees were in such bad shape that there was really no question of waiting. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and there was no cartilage left in either knee. See similar questions...

Instead of accessing the brain through incision(s), surgeons irradiate the brain abnormality with beams of gamma radiation that pass through the skull and brain tissue and treat only the designated area. See similar questions...

On the day of surgery, an intravenous tube will be inserted into your arm to administer necessary medications and fluids during surgery. You will then be taken to the operating room and given anesthesia. The surgery usually takes two to four hours, depending on the condition of your hip. While you are in the operating room, a urinary catheter will be inserted. Compression stockings and pneumatic sleeves will be put on both legs. See similar questions...