Dr. Jeff Abrams
Princeton, New Jersey

This operation is done with the arthroscope.

F. Alan Barber MD, FACS
Plano, Texas

Yes. ACL reconstruction is done with a scope (arthroscopically). Graft harvesting does require a small incision in the area of the tendon, but the graft is inserted with a scope. I like to videotape all my procedures, and the scope allows me to make a videotape of your surgery (only of the portion inside your knee). We can provide our patients with a copy of this video.

Dr. Don Johnson
Ottawa, Canada

The graft must be obtained through a small incision, but the remainder of the operation is done with the scope. There are no incisions that open up the knee joint.

Dr. Hugh West
Salt Lake City, Utah

Years ago, ACL surgery was done with a big incision. This type of surgery was difficult to recover from. The arthroscope has allowed us to develop techniques to replace the ACL with smaller and smaller incisions, making the recovery much easier. An arthroscope is used for a part of the surgery, but the entire surgery is a combination of arthroscopy and surgery through small incisions.