Specialist assessment

Answers for your injury

Your consultant will take the time to understand how your injury is affecting your movement and daily life.

 

Clear treatment advice

Understand your options

You’ll receive clear guidance about what may help and when ligament reconstruction could be the right approach.

 

Care beyond surgery

Support for your recovery

Your care will continue after surgery, with a rehabilitation plan shaped around your progress and the activities you enjoy.

 

Ligament reconstruction overview

Many torn ligaments can’t be repaired with stitches alone. Ligament reconstruction replaces the damaged ligament with a strong piece of tendon tissue, known as a graft. This helps to make the joint more stable again, supporting smoother and stable movement. The graft is usually taken from one of your own tendons (an autograft). In some cases, tendon tissue from a donor (allograft) may be more suitable. Your consultant will recommend the approach that’s right for you based on your injury and recovery goals.

We offer a range of ligament reconstruction procedures, including:

  • ACL reconstruction
  • Surgery for multiple ligament injuries
  • Ankle ligament reconstruction
  • Ulnar Collateral Ligament reconstruction

Whatever your injury, your consultant will talk you through your options in plain language and work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

How is surgery carried out?

You’ll usually have a general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep throughout the operation.

Your surgeon will place the graft where the torn ligament was and secure it to the bone, allowing it to heal and become part of the joint over time. Depending on the joint being treated and the type of injury, the operation may be carried out using keyhole surgery (arthroscopy) through a few small cuts. Some ligament injuries are better treated with open surgery through a larger cut.

Before your operation, your consultant will explain the recommended approach and answer any questions you have about recovery.

 

Are there any risks?

Most people recover well from ligament reconstruction without experiencing serious complications.

As with any operation, there are some risks, including:

  • Infection
  • A blood clot
  • Stiffness or ongoing pain
  • Damage to nearby nerves or blood vessels
  • Stretching or tearing of the graft
  • The joint continuing to feel unstable

Your consultant will discuss your personal risk level and explain how we work to reduce the chance of complications.

 

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Ligament reconstruction overview

Recovery from ligament reconstruction

First 2 weeks

Protecting your healing ligament

Sometimes you will wear a splint to support the joint while swelling settles and the graft begins to heal. Your care team will advise you on managing pain, reducing swelling and moving safely during these early stages of recovery.

Around 6 weeks

Rebuilding movement and strength

As your recovery progresses, you may move from a splint to a brace and begin guided exercises. Many people regain a good range of movement around this stage, while continuing to build strength.

3–12 months

Working towards activity

You may be ready to resume sport between six months and a year after surgery, although recovery can take closer to 12 months for competitive sports or other activities that place high demands on the joint.

How to pay

We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.

Private medical insurance

Private medical insurance

If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.

Paying for yourself

Paying for yourself

You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.

 

Ligament reconstruction FAQs

Find answers to some of the most common questions about ligament reconstruction, including where graft tissue comes from and what recovery may involve.

Many torn ligaments don’t heal reliably when they’re stitched together because they don’t receive enough blood supply to repair themselves. In these cases, replacing the damaged tissue with a tendon graft can provide the strength needed to steady the joint. Others heal well and don’t need surgery at all.

Your surgeon may use one of your own tendons (an autograft) or donor tendon tissue (an allograft). They’ll explain the benefits of each option and recommend the approach that best suits your injury.

Some procedures can be carried out using keyhole surgery, where a camera and small instruments are passed through a few small cuts. Others are better treated with open surgery through a larger incision.

Your surgeon will explain which approach is recommended for your ligament injury.

Often a splint is needed after surgery to help protect the joint while it heals. this may be a brace, which limits certain movements while you begin guided exercises.

 

Your care team will explain how long you’ll need to wear it and when you can safely begin moving the joint more.

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