• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Howard J. Luks, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon

Howard J. Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine Specialist

  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
    • Shoulder Injuries
    • Knee Injuries
    • Elbow Injuries
  • About
Blog / Articles / Knee / ACL

Do all ACL tears require surgery?

Howard J. Luks, MD Updated September 17, 2021

Featured image placeholder

Do All ACL Tears Require Surgery?

No. Many ACL tears do not require surgery and can be managed non-operatively. Many factors go into the decision-making process to determine if you require ACL surgery. Some patients have ACL tears and no instability symptoms. Others are profoundly symptomatic.  That means that their knee feels unstable or loose even with simple stair climbing, turning, or twisting.

We do not know why some people are more symptomatic than others — which is why surgery is not the right answer for everybody. Typically a reconstruction is necessary if you plan to return to competitive activities involving cutting, pivoting, twisting, and rapid side-to-side movements .

There is a difference in how we approach ACL tears in adults and those that occur in children.  Please refer to this discussion about the treatment of ACL tears in children.

Categories: ACL, Sports Medicine, Surgery

Disclaimer:  this information is for your education and should not be considered medical advice regarding diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Some links on this page may be affiliate links. Read the full disclaimer.
Longevity... Simplified: Living A Longer, Healthier Life Shouldn’t Be Complicated

My new book is available now.

“The seven simple steps to make ‘longevity simplified’, will help to improve your metabolic health right now.” – Dr. Neil Meigh

Learn More
Read Reviews

Related Articles

ACL tear questions
8 Important ACL Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
ACL surgery
ACL Surgery – Start to Finish : Part I
should I have surgery
Sometimes our joints just hurt, and it’s ok not to know why
Bowed legs and medial knee pain
High Tibial Osteotomy For Knee Arthritis Pain In Active People
photo of man swinging golf driver
ACL Surgery: Video Answers To Common Questions- Part 1
should I have surgery
Elective Surgery Optimization: A Paradigm Shift
Howard J. Luks, MD

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Primary Sidebar

Howard J. Luks, MD is an orthopedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist. An expert in shoulder, knee, and other sports injuries, he is widely known as one of the country’s best orthopedic surgeons.

Book Appointment · About · Contact

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Like what you’re reading?

Get the latest posts in your inbox

Longevity... Simplified: Living A Longer, Healthier Life Shouldn’t Be Complicated

My new book is available now.

Learn More
Read Reviews

Reader Favorites

  • Batters shoulder posterior labral tear
    Batter’s Shoulder : Posterior Labral Tears
  • calcific tendonitis and severe shoulder pain
    Why Does My Shoulder Hurt So Much?
  • LEg exercises improve longevity
    Runners require strength too: What to do and when to do it
  • lactate polarized training
    Lactate, the lactate shuttle, and lactate threshold workouts in polarized training
  • Zone 2 heart rate training
    Zone 2 Heart Rate Training For Longevity and Performance
  • knee swelling
    Pain In The Front Of The Knee: 6 Common Causes
  • Polarized training for runners
    Polarized training for everyday runners: Part 1
  • should I have surgery
    Sometimes our joints just hurt, and it’s ok not to know why

Howard J Luks, MD

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
128 Ashford Avenue
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

Phone: (914)-559-1900
Book Appointment

Pages

  • About
  • Upcoming Books
  • Testimonials
  • In The News
  • Media Photos
  • Contact

Topics

  • Shoulder
  • Knee
  • Elbow
  • Metabolic Health
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Training

More

  • COVID
  • Ankle
  • Hip
  • PRP
  • Running
  • Sports Medicine
  • Articles
  • Notes
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Education
  • About

© 2023 · Howard J Luks, MD · Disclaimer & Terms · Privacy Policy
The information on this site is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This site should be used for informational purposes only.