Guide to Reconstruction of the ACL
The knee is a complex joint that depends on bones, ligaments and muscles for its stability. There are four major ligaments in the knee - the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, supporting either side of the joint, and two cruciate ligaments which are situated in the centre of the joint. These ligaments control forward and backward glide, and rotation in the joint; the anterior cruciate ligament is the one most commonly requiring surgical reconstruction.
It is possible to replace the damaged ligament with an artificial one made of polyester and/or carbon, or to use a graft of natural tissue usually taken from either the patellar tendon, (on the front of the knee) or the hamstrings tendons, (on the back of the knee). The artificial grafts were commonly used in the 1980s’ but now it is generally accepted that a natural graft is preferable.
