Should I have surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury?
Introduction This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor’s recommendation. This Decision Point does not apply to children or teens: their bones have not stopped developing, so there are different considerations. Nor is this Decision Point for those who have already had ACL surgery and are undergoing revision surgery. For those situations, talk to your doctor.Key points in making your decision Surgeons often prefer different types of surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries based on their experience and training and what they have found to work best. You may want to talk to more than one orthopedic surgeon about your knee injury. If different doctors recommend different approaches for your surgery, choose the surgeon with whom you feel the most comfortable and who has a good reputation in your community. Consider the following when making your decision: • Your age is not a factor, although y
