Knee Reconstruction is usually performed to repair the knee after one of the ligaments that stabilize the knee has been torn. The most commonly damaged of these are the Cruciate ligaments. The reconstruction involves replacing the torn ligament, usually with a tendon graft taken from the hamstrings or the patella tendon. Although there will be some incisions made to harvest the graft the rest of the procedure is done via an arthroscope so there will be only very small entry points into the knee itself.
If you are an active sportsperson and have torn a knee ligament at sport or other vigorous activity you may try some physiotherapy but a repair is usually required. For older, less active people physiotherapy may well suffice. If more than one ligament is damaged or the knee buckles during everyday activities then a repair is more necessary.
It is best if you go to surgery with a knee that is not inflamed and has a good range of movement. Physiotherapy is very useful to reduce the pain and improve the range of movement pre-op.
It is also important to have the area clean preoperatively and for you to have no other infections or illness at the time.
The procedure usually requires a general anaesthetic and one night in hospital. The physiotherapist will instruct you in how to do exercises that form a rehabilitation plan for you at home.