What are some of the complications that could occur with ACL surgery?
A. The likelihood of developing an infection is less than 1%, as are the other major complications such as a blood clot in your leg (deep vein thrombosis), pulmonary embolus, patellar tendon rupture, patellar fracture. Our reoperation rate for motion problems postoperatively has been less than 1% since 1993, and overall less than 2% since 1986. Our stability success rate with primary ACL reconstructions has been over 90% when we evaluate patients at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. The most common reason we have had to reoperate on our ACL patients is for a retear of a meniscal repair. Ten to 15% of our meniscal repair patients will retear their meniscus at variable time periods postoperatively. In our studies about 12% of patients will continue to have some symptoms of discomfort or mild pain with stair climbing.
