If you have torn the anterior cruciate ligament, possibly due to a sports injury or fall, your knee may keep giving way - or you may feel as if it is about to.
Although the ligament cannot be repaired, it is possible to reconstruct it using tendons taken from your knee or hamstring. This should make your knee feel more stable and can also reduce the chances of osteoarthritis in the joint later in life.
The surgery is usually performed under a general anaesthetic using knee arthroscopy (where a tiny camera is inserted into the knee through a small incision). Other small incisions are made around the knee to allow other medical instruments to be used to repair damage. Sometimes the operation can be performed as day case surgery but most people stay 24-48 hours to allow any post-operative surgery to settle down.
After the operation you may need a knee brace and crutches for several weeks and you will need to stick to a special programme which will include regular physiotherapy for around four months before you can return to your normal level of activity.
The outlook is usually very good, giving you a stable knee that does not give way.
The London Knee Unit offers advice and treatment for conditions that affect all parts of the knee. If you would like to find out more about the treatments we provide for orthopaedic conditions please visit our other musculoskeletal sites:
Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle injuries Nerve injuries Shoulder injuries