The patellar tendon's middle one-third is used with a block of bone from the patella and from the tibia. The graft is then passed through two tunnels drilled into the tibia and the femur. The boney portions of the graft are anchored using specially designed screws, giving a solid fix to the graft. The graft recreates the ACL and allows early motion and weight bearing. This means that they take longer to heal.
Athletes can expect to return to competition nine to twelve months after surgery.
The repair of ACL injuries has a relatively high success rate. Like most injuries they are not always preventable. Certain things can be done to help prevent the risk of injury. Strengthening the muscles around the knee that act as shock absorbers and joint stabilizers is of key importance. Strong thigh muscles will help keep the knee in position.