Not everyone who has an ACL injury needs to have surgery. In some cases, it’s possible to regain knee stability with a personalised course of physiotherapy, along with wearing a knee brace when taking part in sport. However, most people have to modify their activities to avoid their knee giving way and pain. If you compete at a high level, where you put additional stress on your knee, you are more likely to need a surgical procedure. If your knee frequently gives way during normal everyday activities, this can cause further damage.

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: ACL reconstruction involves removing existing tissue and then carrying out a graft. This uses either the patient’s own tissue (autograft), usually from the hamstrings or patella tendon, or donated human tissue (allograft) to make a new ACL. Tunnels are created in the shin and thigh bone so that the graft can be fixed in place. It’s usually carried out as a day case procedure using keyhole surgery.
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair: It is possible to repair the ACL by stitching the torn ends of the ligaments together and creating an ‘internal brace’ of fibre tape that holds the joint in the correct position. The fibre tape is passed through tiny tunnels drilled into the bones to fix the ligament securely and is so strong that patients are able to walk normally and carry out their daily activities only a few days after surgery. It is usually carried out as a day case procedure using keyhole surgery.