The goal of ACL surgery is to stabilize the knee joint, return it to normal mechanical function, and permit the athlete to resume sports without a deficit. Here are the most common reasons I see failures and what can be done about it.

Microfracture—the surgical procedure during which small holes are made in joint bones—has resulted in successful temporary repairs for thousands of injured athletes. Unfortunately, the repaired tissues often wore out—leading to more joint pain.

We are all worried about “catching something.” We are doing what we can to sterilize our environments. But in the process, we are creating resistance. Resistant bacteria, mutating viruses, and social distancing are the by-products of sterilized environments. Might we be better off just bathing in the microbiome of earth?