Surgery to Treat an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

The surgery to rebuild a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is called ACL reconstruction. The ACL is one of the main knee ligaments, which are strong, but flexible, connective tissues. It plays a big role in knee stability and proper leg bone alignment. Your orthopaedic and sports medicine team at Penn State Health is highly skilled at determining when ACL reconstruction is appropriate for healing your injury.

Our ACL Reconstruction Services

Successful ACL surgery requires multidisciplinary care. Penn State Health orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeons use the latest methods and work side by side with our rehabilitation and pain management teams. Multidisciplinary, comprehensive care ensures you can return to your sport or physical activity as quickly as possible.

Before ACL Surgery

Some ACL injuries may improve with rest and/or physical therapy only. However, athletes and active individuals often elect to undergo ACL reconstruction because it is the most effective way for them to return to their sports and activities quickly.

Before scheduling ACL reconstruction, our surgeons work closely with you to determine if surgery is the best treatment for your particular type of ACL tear and your individual needs. Once your surgery is scheduled, your care team will help you prepare for the procedure and post-surgery care, so you can be ready to begin your rehabilitation as soon as possible.

After ACL Surgery

Recovery from ACL surgery can take six months or longer. Once you have healed from the surgery, our rehabilitation team will work with you on a personalized physical therapy plan to strengthen your knee. Physical therapy helps ensure a safe and strong return to your activities and can help prevent another ACL injury.

Why Choose Penn State Health for Care

Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.

Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute

Our orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. There, they focus on providing you with multidisciplinary, tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments and technologies. This produces the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional niche areas of orthopaedics, including arthritis care and joint arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).

Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center

Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.

Confidence in Treatment Through Education

We developed a special joint replacement education website just for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The website takes you step by step through the joint replacement process. From things to consider before choosing surgery to recovery after surgery, you’ll find the information you need to help you feel confident in your decision to undergo joint replacement.

Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research

The doctors and researchers in our Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing our field through scientific discovery and education. As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials.