ACL Reconstruction in Kansas City

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you. 

Because an ACL tear is normally an acute injury that can cause significant limitations, most patients will seek out treatment immediately. 

If you are in constant discomfort, have a limited range of motion, significant swelling or an inability to perform your daily activities, seek out treatment for your potential ACL injury.

New technologies allow patients with ACL tears to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician before surgery for specific instructions.

Most physicians require that patients not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery.

Additionally, you will need to designate a family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

The ACL reconstruction begins by placing the patient under general anesthesia.  In most instances our surgeons will utilize minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to perform the procedure. This includes a combination of fiber optics and small incisions to access and visualize the knee structures. 

There are several different grafting options that can be used to replace your torn ACL.  Which type of graft is selected is a collaborative decision between the patient and physician. 

A graft may be harvested from a portion of your own hamstring, quads, or patellar tendon. This is called an autograft. The other option is to have a donor graft known as an allograft. 

Your surgeon will remove the damaged tissue and then drill small tunnels into your thigh bone and shinbone to accurately position the new graft.  The graft is positioned in the tunnels and secured to your bones with screws or other fixation devices. The knee is then tested for range of motion and stability before the small incisions are closed.

A patient’s recovery plan and timeline will vary based on a variety of factors, including age, activity level, goals, and more.

However, taking care of your body is essential to ensure optimal results from your ACL reconstruction surgery.

In the immediate aftermath of your surgery, it’s important to keep your foot elevated to reduce swelling.

Your care team will also provide you medications to control soreness.

It usually takes six to nine months for a patient to return to participating in sports after an ACL reconstruction, depending on the level of competition and the type of activity.

Patients are able to walk with crutches and a leg brace on the day of surgery. Very soon after surgery, the patient enters a rehabilitation program to restore strength, stability, and range of motion to the knee.

Depending on your individual timeline, patients can start more vigorous activity after a few months of recovery.

Ultimately return to sport or activity is a joint decision made by the patient, the surgeon and the treating physical therapist following a series of tests to ensure adequate strength, balance and flexibility have been achieved.