Treatment

Treatment includes rest, ice compression and elevation (RICE) plus a brace to immobilize the knee, crutches and pain relievers. You'll need to rest for a few days to reduce pain and swelling.

Depending on the severity of your injury you may be instructed to start exercising once you feel better to restore range of motion and strengthen your knee muscles to help compensate for some of the ACL's inability to properly stabilize the knee. You may also be instructed to wear a special brace to help further stabilize your knee.

A partial tear of the ACL may or may not require surgical treatment. A complete tear is more serious. Complete tears, especially in younger athletes, may require reconstruction. The need for surgery depends on several factors:

Age
Activity level
Other injuries, such as a collateral ligament or meniscal tear
Effectiveness of exercising and the brace in stabilizing the knee
General stability of the knee

ACL reconstruction is most often performed through arthroscopy. Patients often go home shortly after the operation; however, occasionally a brief hospital stay is required.

Using arthroscopy, your surgeon removes the damaged ACL and replaces it with another piece of tissue. The damaged ACL is replaced with strong, healthy tissue taken from another area near your knee. A strip of tendon from under your kneecap (patellar tendon) or hamstring may be used. The tissue is threaded through the inside of your knee joint, securing the ends to your upper and lower leg (femur and tibia.)

Physical therapy may be prescribed following the surgery by your surgeon to regain motion and strengthen your knee muscles. Your recovery will likely take 4-6 months (depending on the treatment method).