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ACL reconstruction - Risks

Alternative Names

Anterior cruciate ligament repair; Knee surgery

Risks:

The risks for any anesthesia are:

Allergic reactions to medicines
Breathing problems

The risks for any surgery are:

Bleeding
Infection

Additional risks for this surgery are:

Stiffness of the knee or lost a range of motion
Failure of the surgery to relieve symptoms
Failure of the ligament to heal
Pain in the knee
Weakness of the knee
Blood clot in the leg
Injury to a nearby blood vessel

Reviewed last on: 2/3/2009
C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Phillips BB. Arthroscopy of the lower extremity. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 48.

Streich NA. Reconstruction of the ACL with a semitendinosus tendon graft: a prospective randomized single blinded comparison of double-bundle versus single-bundle technique in male athletes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. March 1, 2008;16(3): 232-8.

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