Knee · Ligaments
Multiligament knee reconstruction
Multiple Knee Ligament Tears or Knee Dislocation
The condition
Four main ligaments hold the knee together: the ACL and PCL in the center and the collateral ligaments on each side. A high-energy injury, such as a knee dislocation, can tear two or more. The knee becomes very unstable, and nerves and blood vessels may be injured too.
The surgery
Each torn ligament (such as the PCL, ACL, MCL, or LCL/posterolateral corner) is rebuilt or repaired with tendon grafts through small incisions with a camera plus incisions on the side of the knee. Graft choices will be discussed with you. Some injuries are treated in stages. The final plan is determined during surgery.
Recovery at a glance
- Weight-bearing
- Crutches for 6 weeks: full weight with the brace locked straight (PCL ± ACL), or touchdown (essentially no weight through your operative leg) if a side ligament (LCL, MCL) was rebuilt. Normal walking by ~8 weeks.
- Brace & motion
- Brace locked straight for walking and sleep for 6 weeks; bending to 90° by 2 weeks and 110° by 6 weeks. A PCL brace (if used) is worn until 6 months.
- Daily life
- Desk work often within 2–3 weeks. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Running
- Typically 6 months or later.
- Sports
- Typically 10–12 months or longer, after strength and functional testing. A brace is worn for sports through the first year.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Most patients regain a stable knee for daily life, and many return to work or sports. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, loss of motion that may need another procedure, remaining looseness, injury to the nerve that lifts the foot (foot drop), injury to nearby structures (such as cartilage or, rarely, the blood vessels behind the knee), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery.
Patient Surgical Information
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Before & after every surgery