GOALS AND COMMITMENTS

Our goal is to restore your strength, stability, range of motion, function and confidence in your knee so that you may return to the activities you enjoy.  It requires dedication, discipline, motivation, trust and patience from you.  Achieving a successful ACL reconstruction is a two-step process.  The first step entails surgery.  Often people have the misconception that this will be the most challenging step for them.  In fact, as the patient, it is the second step that proves to be the most taxing.  That second step is rehabilitation and training.  Your results will correlate with your efforts.  You must understand that each step is equally important and by having surgery you have committed yourself to three months of rehabilitation.

Using a combination of formal physical therapy, athletic training for strength and conditioning, daily home exercises and visits with The Stone Clinic team, you will optimize your ability to attain your goals and make a strong recovery.

Our goal is to help you become fitter, faster, and stronger than you were before the injury.

ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

How long will I be in the hospital?
Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis.  Patients go home the same day once they are alert and able to eat and drink as well as ambulate with crutches.

When can I drive a car?
Once your leg is strong and coordinated enough to react safely to avoid accidents.  Driving is often resumed soon after the first week.  Do not drive when you are taking pain medications.

When can I return to work or school?
This depends on the nature of the job.  Those with a sitting or desk job can usually return 7-10 days after surgery.

What is the success rate of the surgery?
90% of patients will have stability nearly equal to the normal knee and will be able to return to full, unrestricted activities without any brace.

Can I re-injure the graft?
Your new graft is no more susceptible to injury than your knee was before the injury.  The re-injury rate is actually lower than the normal ligament.

When can I start showering?
You can shower once the surgical wounds/incisions have stopped draining and when dressings are no longer needed.  This usually takes 4-7 days.  Once showering, it is OK to run water over the wounds.  If the wound is fresh, you may pour rubbing alcohol over it to clean it and then apply a fresh sterile dressing.