ACL Surgery Adelaide

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major stabilising ligaments in the knee. It is a strong rope like structure located in the centre of the knee running from the femur to the tibia. A complete tear, also called a rupture, of the ACL most commonly occurs playing sport. When this ligament tears it unfortunately does not heal and often leads to a feeling of instability in the knee and this may require surgery.

ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure performed to restore stability to the knee and enable a full return to sport and work. With recent advances in arthroscopic surgery can now be performed with minimal incisions and low complication rates. The reconstruction is usually performed using a hamstring or patella tendon graft from the same knee. The synthetic LARS ligament is also available but is now used much less commonly.

Blog: Less Pain and Faster Recovery after ACL Reconstruction

Over the last two years I have introduced an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery at Sportsmed Hospital.

Graft choice for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction – Hamstring, Patella Tendon or LARS?

A highly polarised debate has been raging for years regarding the best choice of graft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR). There are strong advocates for either the hamstring or patella tendon technique, or for various versions of artificial ligaments.

How Much Does ACL Surgery Cost?

Out of pocket expenses for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction vary by thousands of dollars depending on your choice of surgeon and where you have surgery. There is no evidence that higher costs result in better outcomes for patients. It pays to shop around. I have always made sure that the my fees are reasonable and transparent. As a result I frequently treat patients from South Australia as well as those travelling from interstate and overseas who have done their research on pricing and quality.

ACL Reconstruction Hamstring Tendon Graft

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction hamstring method is a surgical procedure that replaces the injured ACL with a hamstring tendon. Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and helps stabilize your knee joint. Anterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive forward movement of the lower leg bone (the tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (the femur) as well as limits rotational movements of the knee.

ACL Reconstruction Patellar Tendon Graft

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction patellar tendon is a surgical procedure that replaces the injured ACL with a patellar tendon. Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and helps stabilize the knee joint. Anterior cruciate ligament prevents excessive forward movement of the lower leg bone (tibia) in relation to the thigh bone (femur) as well as limits rotational movements of the knee.

ACL Reconstruction with the LARS Ligament

Anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and helps stabilize the knee joint. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the common injuries of the knee. An injury to ACL most commonly occurs during sports or activities that involve twisting, overextending, landing from a jump incorrectly, and abrupt change in direction or speed of movements.

When can I return to sport after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery?

Most patients after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction surgery want to know when they can return to sport. There is conflicting information out there with surgeons giving advice varying from nine to twelve months. There is a now lot of evidence that it isn’t as simple as giving a routine time frame.

How Can I Prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?

Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a common injury that can severely effect an athlete’s career and has significant additional financial, physical and emotional consequences outside of sport. The good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented with an ACL prevention program. Unfortunately, most amateur athletes involved in sport at a school or community level are not engaged in these sorts of programs, but progress is being made.