A popping sensation in the knee followed by swelling, instability, and a feeling that the knee is about to give way is a classic sign of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Dr. Ankit Chaudhari at Ashirwad Hospital evaluates the exact nature of the tear first — since not every ACL injury needs surgery — and the right decision depends on the severity of the tear, the level of instability, and the patient’s activity goals.
The anterior cruciate ligament is a strong band of tissue connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), passing diagonally through the inside of the knee joint. Its main role is to stabilise the knee and prevent the shin bone from sliding forward relative to the thigh bone. An ACL tear happens when this ligament is stretched beyond its limit and partially or completely tears — most commonly during activities involving sudden stops, pivoting, or direct impact to the knee.
ACL injuries are common among people who play sports involving quick direction changes, jumping, and sudden stops — such as football, badminton, basketball, and volleyball — and they also occur from falls, road accidents, and twisting injuries during ordinary activity. Because the ACL plays a central role in knee stability, an accurate diagnosis is the foundation for deciding whether surgery or a structured non-surgical rehabilitation programme is the right path forward.
Not every ACL tear requires surgical reconstruction — and at Ashirwad Hospital, surgery is never recommended until a thorough evaluation has considered whether non-surgical management is genuinely appropriate for the specific patient and injury. Some partial tears, particularly in patients with lower activity demands or those willing to modify high-pivoting activities, can be managed through a structured non-surgical rehabilitation programme described on the non-surgical treatments page.
The tear is complete and the knee is significantly unstable; the patient is young, active, or involved in sports requiring pivoting or jumping; there is an associated meniscus or ligament injury that also needs surgical attention; non-surgical management has not resolved instability in daily activities.
The tear is partial with minimal functional instability; the patient has low activity demands and is not involved in pivoting sports; the patient is older and willing to accept activity modification; the patient has medical conditions that increase surgical risk beyond what the functional benefit justifies.
A structured physiotherapy programme rebuilding quadriceps and hamstring strength, proprioceptive retraining, activity modification to avoid high-risk pivoting movements, and regular review to assess whether instability is developing. Non-surgical management of ACL tears is managed through the non-surgical treatments pathway at Ashirwad Hospital.
Young athletes who want to return to sport involving pivoting, cutting, and jumping movements are almost universally better served by reconstruction than by non-surgical management alone. The risk of re-injury to a functionally unstable knee — including damage to the meniscus that can accelerate joint degeneration — justifies surgical reconstruction in most athletic young patients.
ACL reconstruction is performed using arthroscopic, minimally invasive techniques through small incisions in the knee — replacing the torn ligament with a graft, most commonly taken from the patient’s own hamstring or patellar tendon. The full detail of arthroscopic knee surgery techniques used at Ashirwad Hospital is available on the minimally invasive HD arthroscopy page and the arthroscopy and sports injury page.
MRI review to map the exact tear pattern and identify any associated meniscal or ligament injuries. General fitness and anaesthesia assessment. Graft type discussed and selected with the patient — hamstring graft (most commonly used), patellar tendon graft (bone-patellar tendon-bone), or quadriceps tendon graft. The rationale for graft selection is explained before any decision is made.
ACL reconstruction at Ashirwad Hospital is typically performed under spinal anaesthesia with or without sedation, or under general anaesthesia, depending on the patient's health status and preference. A tourniquet is applied to the upper thigh to reduce operative bleeding. The knee is placed in a leg holder to allow full arthroscopic access.
For hamstring grafts, the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons are harvested through a small incision below and medial to the kneecap. The graft is prepared to the appropriate diameter and length on the back table. For patellar tendon grafts, the central third of the patellar tendon is harvested along with bone plugs from the kneecap and shin bone.
The arthroscope is introduced through small portals to inspect the entire knee joint. Any associated meniscus tear is assessed and either repaired or partially resected at this stage. Cartilage damage is noted and treated where appropriate. The torn ACL remnant is debrided to prepare the bone surfaces for tunnel placement.
Bone tunnels are drilled in the femur and tibia at the anatomic insertion sites of the original ACL. The graft is then passed through the tibial tunnel, across the joint, and up through the femoral tunnel — replicating the original ligament’s position and orientation as closely as possible. Anatomic positioning is critical to restoring rotational stability.
The graft is tensioned and fixed to the bone using appropriate fixation devices — interference screws, cortical buttons, or a combination — at both the femoral and tibial ends. The knee is taken through a range of motion and the graft stability is confirmed before the portals are closed. A drain and post-operative dressing are applied.
Recovery after ACL reconstruction is a gradual, staged process — since returning to full activity safely, especially sports involving pivoting or jumping, takes time. At Ashirwad Hospital, recovery is planned as a structured programme and monitored by Dr. Chaudhari through every stage. The timeline reflects functional progress, not a fixed calendar date.
Most patients stand and walk with crutches. Ice, elevation, and compression to control swelling. Quadriceps activation exercises started.
Discharged from hospital. Crutches used for 1 to 2 weeks. Wound care at home. Range of motion exercises commenced.
Suture or staple removal. Walking without crutches when quadriceps control is adequate. Swelling settling progressively.
Progressive closed-chain strengthening begins. Cycling on a stationary bike. Proprioceptive balance training. Light swimming.
Strengthening escalated. Full range of motion typically restored. Return to light jogging when quadriceps strength is adequate and swelling has resolved.
Follow-up X-ray to assess fixation. Functional assessment. Most patients walking freely and managing stairs comfortably.
Running programme progresses. Sport-specific agility drills introduced. Cutting and lateral movements when strength symmetry reaches 80% of the uninjured side.
Functional testing — single-leg hop tests, strength symmetry assessment. Return to sport considered when objective criteria are met, not on a fixed calendar date alone.
Full return to competitive sport for most patients. Continued strength maintenance programme recommended. Annual review for high-demand athletes.
ACL reconstruction cost in Surat varies depending on the hospital, the graft type used, the surgical technique, and whether an associated injury such as a meniscus tear needs to be treated at the same time. Rather than quoting a single figure that may not apply to your specific case, Ashirwad Hospital provides a clear cost breakdown during consultation once the diagnosis and surgical plan are confirmed.
Most major health insurance policies cover ACL reconstruction surgery. The billing team at Ashirwad Hospital assists with pre-authorisation and cashless hospitalisation for eligible patients. For a personal cost estimate based on your specific condition, visit the contact us page or check the orthopedic doctor near Surat with fees page.
Surat has a number of orthopedic surgeons who perform ACL reconstruction, and patients — especially athletes — often compare surgical experience, rehabilitation support, and transparency before deciding. The following reflects common patterns patients describe when researching best ACL surgeon in Surat, ACL reconstruction cost in Surat, or knee ligament surgery near me.
At Ashirwad Hospital, non-surgical rehabilitation is considered first for suitable partial tears based on activity level, instability grade, and the patient’s willingness to modify sporting activity. Surgery is recommended only when the clinical case supports it.
Every ACL assessment at Ashirwad Hospital includes full knee evaluation — clinically and on MRI — to identify and address any associated injury alongside the ACL tear. Treating the ACL while missing a concurrent medial meniscus tear or MCL injury leads to a suboptimal outcome.
Graft choice and the reasoning behind it are explained clearly to the patient at Ashirwad Hospital before surgery — hamstring versus patellar tendon versus quadriceps, and the clinical factors that influence the decision — so the patient makes an informed decision rather than deferring entirely to the surgeon’s preference.
At Ashirwad Hospital, return to activity is guided by functional testing and progress — not a generic calendar. A patient who is not functionally ready to return to sport at month five is not cleared at month five simply because that is the standard timeline.
Recovery at Ashirwad Hospital is planned and monitored by the same doctor who performed the surgery. Progress through each rehabilitation phase is reviewed at follow-up appointments, with adjustments made based on objective findings rather than a standard programme applied to every patient.
A transparent discussion of what the estimated cost includes — surgeon fees, hospital charges, fixation device costs, and rehabilitation — happens at the consultation at Ashirwad Hospital before any booking is made.
A thorough first consultation is what makes the difference between a treatment plan that is right for your specific tear and one based on assumption. Here is what the first visit at Ashirwad Hospital covers:
How the injury happened, the exact mechanism, whether there was a pop, how quickly swelling developed, how much instability you are experiencing in daily life and during sport, and what treatments you have tried since the injury.
The Lachman test, anterior drawer test, and pivot shift test are performed to assess ACL integrity. The medial and lateral joint lines are palpated for meniscal tenderness. The MCL and LCL are assessed for laxity. The overall alignment, muscle bulk, and range of motion of both knees are compared.
MRI of the knee through the diagnostics and imaging centre at Ashirwad Hospital confirms whether the tear is partial or complete, identifies any associated meniscal or cartilage injury, and provides the imaging basis for the surgical plan. Patients who already have a recent MRI are asked to bring the films or digital disc to the first visit.
A clear explanation of whether surgery or a non-surgical rehabilitation programme is appropriate for your specific case — based on the tear grade, functional instability, activity demands, and imaging findings. The reasoning is explained, not just the conclusion.
A walkthrough of the procedure, graft options and their rationale, expected hospital stay, rehabilitation plan, and return-to-sport timeline. A transparent cost estimate based on your specific case, including what is and is not covered by your health insurance.
If you are searching for an ACL surgery doctor near me, or a knee ligament surgeon near me in Surat, Ashirwad Hospital on L.P. Savani Road, Adajan is accessible to patients from across Surat city and Gujarat:
Dr. Ankit Chaudhari is an orthopedic surgeon at Ashirwad Hospital in Surat, with experience treating ACL tears and other ligament injuries of the knee — whether from sports, accidents, or falls. Patients across Surat are seen for both partial and complete ACL tears, ranging from young athletes wanting to return to sport to individuals managing knee instability in daily life.
Because an ACL tear does not always require surgery, the evaluation is treated as the most important step before recommending any specific treatment path. Dr. Chaudhari explains graft options, the reasoning behind the surgical plan, the recovery timeline, and cost transparently before any decision is made. For his background and qualifications, visit the about us page.
ACL surgery at Ashirwad Hospital is part of a comprehensive orthopedic service covering all knee, joint, and sports injury conditions:
Accessible from Adajan, Vesu, Pal, Athwa, Katargam, Varachha, and across Surat city. Patients from Navsari, Bharuch, Tapi, and Valsad also travel to Ashirwad Hospital for ACL reconstruction surgery and sports injury care not available at local facilities.
| Monday – Saturday | 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | By prior appointment or emergency only |
No referral required. Visit the contact page to book your ACL consultation or check fees and availability.
Ashirwad Hospital provides specialized orthopedic care with modern facilities, expert surgeons, and patient-focused healing.
3rd Floor, Vision Business Hub Opposite Shell Petrol Pump, L.P. Savani Road, Adajan, Surat, 395009