Over 120,000 ACL reconstructions are performed in the United States each year. Because many people never seek a physician’s care after they hurt their knee, it is estimated that the number of new ACL injuries is at least double that amount. Certainly, ACL ruptures are one of the most common serious knee injuries that occur and the consequences can be devastating to both young and older individuals alike.

 More than 5,000 ACL reconstructions have been performed at The Noyes Knee Institute since the late 1970’s.  The results of these surgical procedures have been reported in clinical outcome studies and published in the medical community’s most respected publications, read by physicians worldwide. More than 60 clinical research studies have been conducted and reported to the medical community from our Center. See our Clinical Research section for information on these studies.

Dr. Noyes was the first surgeon to publish (in the English medical literature) the recommendation for immediate movement of the knee after this operation, thereby reducing the risk of complications and loss of normal knee motion. Our advanced surgical techniques and postoperative rehabilitation, which begins the day after surgery, have resulted in success rates averaging 95% and complication rates as low as 1%.

Different grafts can be used for ACL reconstruction. The graft is placed in the knee usually through just one or twp very small incisions with the aid of the arthroscope. In the majority of patients, we recommend the use of a portion of their own patellar tendon for this operation. Other grafts that can be used from a patients’ own body include the hamstring tendons (semitendinosus and gracilis tendons) and the quadriceps tendon.

For certain patients in whom multiple ligaments are ruptured, an allograft (or transplant) may be required. We use only grafts from tissue banks that have undergone FDA inspections and are certified by the American Association of Tissue Banks.

“While ACL reconstruction may appear to be a common operation, the procedure requires highly trained and experienced surgeons to ensure that the proper graft is selected and placed in the anatomically correct position in the knee. An appropriate rehabilitation program must be followed and these programs vary according to the individual characteristics and needs of our patients. Unfortunately, we see all too many patients referred from other surgeons after a failed ACL reconstruction. Patients should realize that surgeon training and experience is paramount in this operation.

Our studies have reported a 95% success rate for patellar tendon autograft ACL reconstructions, one of the highest found in the medical literature. In addition, less than 1% required a reoperation for a limitation of knee motion after surgery. Our numbers speak for themselves. That is what convinces people to come here.”

Sue Barber-Westin, B.S.
Director of Clinical and Applied Research
Cincinnati Sportsmedicine Research and Education Foundation

“Our rigorous follow-up studies of patients who have ACL reconstructions have provided some very important information to the community. Our rehabilitation program, which was the first in the United States to include immediate knee motion after surgery, has resulted in one of the lowest complication rates reported in the literature. We were the first to find that there is literally no difference in results of this operation between men and women. We have also found that, in patients with arthritis, ACL reconstruction helps relieve symptoms and can be performed without aggravating the arthritis.”

Frank R. Noyes, M.D.
President 
and Medical Director
Noyes Knee Institute
Cincinnati SportsMedicine & Orthopaedic Center