ACL Tear Treatment
Diagnosis and treatment of ACL tears for athletes and active adults, from rehabilitation to arthroscopic reconstruction, with a former assistant team physician for the NY Jets and NY Islanders.
How an ACL tear happens
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stops the shinbone sliding forward and twisting under the thighbone. It usually tears when you plant and pivot, change direction fast, or land awkwardly from a jump, often with no contact at all. Many people feel or hear a pop, the knee swells within hours, and afterwards it feels unstable, as if it might give way when you turn.
How it is diagnosed
An exam tests how far the shinbone moves forward against the thighbone, and an MRI confirms the tear. The MRI also shows what else was hurt, because ACL tears often come with a meniscus tear or bruising of the bone.
Surgery or rehabilitation?
A completely torn ACL does not heal back together by itself. For most active people, especially anyone who wants to return to cutting and pivoting sport, ACL reconstruction is the most reliable path back to a stable knee. Some less active people do well with rehabilitation and changes to how they use the knee.
The decision depends on your age, your sport or work, how unstable the knee feels, and what else was damaged. Dr. Matarazzo spent more than a decade as an assistant team physician for the NY Jets and NY Islanders, and he weighs it the same way for a weekend player as for a competitive athlete.
What reconstruction involves
The torn ligament is replaced with a graft, using minimally invasive arthroscopic technique. Rehabilitation often starts before surgery, to settle the swelling and get the knee moving. Afterwards it runs in stages: movement, then strength, then control, then sport-specific work. Return to sport is decided by testing rather than the calendar, and for pivoting sport it commonly takes around nine months or more.
What to expect
- Same-week evaluation and imaging review
- A plain answer on whether reconstruction is the right call for you
- Treatment of any meniscus or cartilage damage found with it
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic reconstruction
- An individualized, sport-specific rehabilitation plan
- A staged, tested return to sport
FAQ
Common Patient Questions
A completely torn ACL does not heal back together by itself. Some people, especially less active ones, manage well with rehabilitation; most athletes who want to pivot and cut again need reconstruction.
Usually, once the first swelling settles. Walking in a straight line is often fine; the knee tends to give way when you twist or change direction.
Not always. It depends on your age, your activity, how unstable the knee feels and what else was injured. For most active people who want to return to pivoting sport, reconstruction is the most reliable option.
Rehabilitation runs for months. Return to pivoting sport commonly takes around nine months or more, and it is decided by testing rather than a date.
Yes. The two often happen together, which is one reason an MRI is used to see everything that was injured.
Soon. Call the office as early in the day as you can; staff keep room for fresh knee injuries and will tell you honestly whether you can be seen that day.
Related
You may also be interested in
Where You’d Be Seen
ACL tear treatment in Port St. Lucie & Palm Beach Gardens
Dr. Matarazzo sees patients for this at both offices — Port St. Lucie (1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd., Ste. 105) and Palm Beach Gardens (11380 Prosperity Farms Rd, Ste 204). Patients travel in from Stuart, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, North Palm Beach and West Palm Beach — see every area we serve, or call 561-202-8886.