Sports & Arthroscopy
ACL & Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Chennai
Keyhole reconstruction of ACL, PCL and meniscus injuries with a graded, objectively tested return-to-sport programme.
The anterior cruciate ligament is the primary restraint stopping your shin bone sliding forward on your thigh bone. When it tears — typically in a twisting, non-contact movement on a planted foot — the knee loses rotational stability. The pain settles within weeks, which misleads many patients into believing it has healed. It has not: the knee simply gives way under load instead.
That instability is not merely inconvenient. Every episode of giving way risks tearing the meniscus and abrading the cartilage, and untreated ACL deficiency is a recognised route to early arthritis in a young knee. Reconstruction is about protecting the joint for the next forty years, not just for this season.
Dr. Hingarh holds a fellowship in sports medicine and performs arthroscopic ACL and PCL reconstruction using the patient’s own hamstring or quadriceps tendon graft, with the meniscus repaired rather than removed wherever the tear pattern allows.
Signs of a ligament or meniscus injury
- A "pop" heard or felt at the moment of injury, with rapid swelling within hours
- The knee giving way when turning, pivoting or changing direction
- Locking, or the knee catching and refusing to straighten fully
- Pain along the joint line when twisting
- Loss of confidence in the knee on stairs or uneven ground
- Recurrent swelling after sport or exertion
Our surgical approach
Examination plus MRI
Clinical tests such as Lachman and pivot shift, combined with MRI, confirm which structures are torn. Associated meniscus and cartilage injury is identified before surgery, not discovered during it.
Pre-operative rehabilitation
Operating on a swollen, stiff knee produces a stiff knee afterwards. We restore full extension and quadriceps control first — this consistently improves the final result.
Anatomic reconstruction
The graft is placed at the native ACL footprint through keyhole portals, reproducing the original ligament’s position and therefore its function.
Repair the meniscus, do not remove it
Meniscus preservation protects the cartilage long-term. Repairable tears are repaired; removal is a last resort.
Criteria-based return to sport
Return is governed by strength symmetry and hop testing, not by the calendar. Returning before the quadriceps recovers is the single biggest predictor of re-tear.
Recovery timeline
Every patient recovers at their own pace, and the milestones below are typical rather than guaranteed. Your age, general health and how consistently you follow the rehabilitation programme all shift the timeline.
- Week 0–2 Protect
Brace and crutches, full extension restored, swelling controlled, quadriceps activation begun.
- Week 2–6 Restore motion
Full range of movement regained, walking normalised, closed-chain strengthening introduced.
- Month 2–4 Build strength
Progressive resistance work, balance and proprioception training, stationary cycling and swimming.
- Month 4–6 Running & agility
Straight-line running, then cutting and pivoting drills once strength targets are met.
- Month 9–12 Return to sport
Competitive return once hop tests and strength symmetry reach target. Rushing this stage is how grafts re-tear.
Questions
ACL & Ligament Reconstruction — your questions answered
Still unsure about something? Call +91 99622 45671 and ask.
Do all ACL tears need surgery?
When can I return to cricket or football after ACL surgery?
Which graft do you use for ACL reconstruction?
Is ACL reconstruction done as day surgery?
Related treatments
Appointments
Get seen today — walk in or call ahead
Consultation runs morning and evening, Monday to Saturday, with digital X-ray on site. Most patients leave with a diagnosis and a written plan in a single visit.
Monday – Saturday
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday — Closed (emergency calls attended)
Chennai 600017