Do I Need ACL Surgery?

If you’ve suffered an ACL injury, then you may be wondering if you will need reconstructive surgery.  Hey, I’m Dane from Lift Physio, and ACL tears are something that we see commonly in our clinic.  

One question we often get asked is whether surgery is necessary for ACL tears.

Well, the fact is that not every ACL injury requires reconstructive surgery.

There will be a couple of options depending on your individual circumstances, taking into account things like your age, activity levels, job and family requirements, your individual goals, as well as previous history, pre-existing risk factors, and other associated injuries.  

These will all impact whether the right decision for you is to opt straight for surgery or to try a conservative approach such as physiotherapy first.  

Either way, if an ACL injury is suspected, we always recommend further investigations - the gold standard being an MRI evaluation, followed by an opinion from an orthopedic specialist to help you weigh up the pros and cons.  

This will help provide you with all the information you need before you make a decision on your path to recovery.

If you are leaning towards reconstructive surgery, then you want to go into the surgery with the strongest and best-looking knee possible, because this will make your post-op recovery a lot easier.  

This means that it’s also important to see your physio and start the rehab process as soon as possible after sustaining the injury, even before you have surgery. 

I hope this helps.  I’m Dane from Lift Physio.  And you’ve found this information helpful to you, then make sure to give this video a like, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more tips like this in the future.