Overview
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery is a type of knee ligament surgery that involves replacing the ACL in your knee.
- The ACL is a band of tissue inside your knee. It helps your knee move and stay stable.
- You can injure your ACL doing sports, or if you hit your knee, twist your knee, or quickly change direction or speed when running or walking.
- Not all ACL injuries need surgery, but you may need it if you play a lot of sport and want to continue, or if you keep having problems with your knee after trying physiotherapy.
- ACL surgery can involve replacing the ACL with a graft. The graft is usually taken from another part of your body, such as the hamstring.
- You'll have the operation in hospital and you'll need physiotherapy afterwards. It usually takes several months or more to recover afterwards.
Page last reviewed: 17 July 2025
Next review due: 17 July 2028
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