Physical therapy will be started before your surgery. This will help you learn the exercises you will need to perform during the initial phases of recovery after surgery. After this examination, your injured knee will be evaluated with the help of an arthroscope . The arthroscope is a tiny illuminated fiberoptic camera that is inserted into your knee through very small incisions, allowing the surgeon to see the interior of your knee on a video monitor. If ACL reconstruction is indicated, the surgeon will use the arthroscope to perform this procedure through very small incisions.
Reconstruction usually involves replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon graft.
The graft is usually obtained from the central third of your patellar tendon, or from a portion of your hamstring tendons. After the arthroscopic evaluation, two small tunnels will be made. The first tunnel is placed through the tibia, and the second will be in your femur. This prepares your knee for graft placement. After the graft has been inserted into the new tunnels, it is fixed in place.