Herniated Disc

ACL Reconstruction:
Where the Replacement ACL Comes From

There are three ways of creating a replacement ACL:

1
One method involves using the patellar tendon, which connects the patella to the tibia.

The middle third of the tendon and a small portion of bone on either end is "harvested" and used as the new ACL.

This is called a patellar tendon autograft, because your own tissue is used.

mid3rd

2
strings

Another autograft method uses the semitendinosus-gracilis (hamstring) tendons, which connect muscles in the back of the thigh to the lower leg. A small portion of these two tendons is removed through a small incision in your leg, then they are looped to form a strong new ACL.

braid

3

The third method uses an allograft, meaning the tendon comes from a source other than your own body, such as a donated achilles tendon.
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