Following ACL reconstruction avoid from high-impact activities.

You may drive your car once you have full control of your surgical leg. If you had surgery on your left leg and drive an automatic transmission car you may be able to drive as early as 2 weeks following surgery if you are not taking pain medications. If an ACL reconstruction was performed on the right knee and/or you drive a manual transmission you may be unable to drive for six weeks.

Your returning to work greatly depends on what type of work you do. Sit down jobs or office jobs you may be able to return as early as 2 – weeks depending on your recovery. Jobs which require a lot of walking­­ or standing require you to be farther along in your recovery.

Returning home directly from the hospital you will most likely require assistance with house cleaning, meal preparation, ect. depending on the progress you made in the hospital.

Following a total ACL reconstruction patients do not require at home physical therapy but requires outpatient physical therapy 2-3 times a week for at least 4 weeks.

You will be walking the day following your surgery with the use of a cane or walker. You will talk will either a cane, walker or crutches for 2 – 6 weeks depending on your recovery.

• Advanced imaging techniques are used to prepare a specific plan based on alignment and anatomy of your knee.
• You are given general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia.
• A small incision is made at the front of your knee.
• The damaged part of the bone is removed taking care to retain the ACL ligament.
• Specialized cutting guides are used to prepare the bone for placement of an implant.
• The implant is carefully placed, and your surgeon checks for correct movement of your knee.
• The incision is closed and covered with a surgical dressing.

The physical therapy department at the hospital will have you climbing stairs before you are discharged from the hospital. The speed in which you climb the stairs depends on your progress.

We recommend 2 weeks of physical therapy prior to your ACL reconstruction to strengthen your surrounding muscles.

Your surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for total ACL reconstruction through and x-ray and physical examination. It is your decision to schedule surgery based on your discomfort, pain, loss of quality of life.

The risks involved with ACL reconstruction are uncommon but can occur include but not limited to injuries to the nerves and blood vessels, loss of motion to the knee, stiffness to the knee, pulmonary embolism, thrombophlebitis, fracture, patellar tendon rupture, and possible need for future surgery.

ACL reconstructions can fail commonly due to high impact activities.

Please discontinue the use of Aspirin or any product containing aspirin 10 days prior to surgery. This includes Plavix, Mobic, Celebrex, Motrin (Ibuprofen), Advil, Aleve, Vitamin E, Gingko Biloba, and Multivitamins. You may take Tylenol based products.

You may experience some numbness on the outside of your knee, this occurs when making the incision damaging nerves. This usually goes away with time.

Avoid showering or bathing until your incision is completely dry.

Your time in the operating room varies between 45 – 90 minutes followed by time in the recovery room.

Comfortable loose fitting clothing which easily stretches above the knee.

You may resume all of your medications upon discharge from the hospital unless indicated otherwise by your doctor.

Following your ACL reconstruction the pain medications you are prescribed may cause constipation, if this is the case we often recommend the “Brown Bomber” to counteract the constipation.

• 1 Oz. Milk of Magnesia
• 4 Oz., Prune Juice
• Mix milk of magnesia and prune, microwave for 30 seconds and mix.

Drink in the morning before breakfast or in the evening before dinner, this can be repeated after 6 hours if needed.

The compression stockings are to be worn during the day and may be taken off at night before going to bed. Continue this until your first postoperative visit back to the office.

The compression stockings are to be worn during the day and may be taken off at night before going to bed. Continue this until your first postoperative visit back to the office.

• 1 Oz. Milk of Magnesia
• 4 Oz., Prune Juice
• Mix milk of magnesia and prune, microwave for 30 seconds and mix.

Drink in the morning before breakfast or in the evening before dinner, this can be repeated after 6 hours if needed.