I’m going to get straight to the point on this question: can the acl be torn a second time in the same knee?

1. Yes, not suprisingly, the ACL may be torn a second time.

2. However, it’s not the end of the world.

3. The risk, percentage-wise, of retearing the ACL is about 5%, which puts you at about even with the other knee.

Is a Second ACL Tear To a Pro Athlete Career-Ending? 

While we used to hear the term “career-ending” often, now it’s more common to hear the term “season-ending”. We have gotten to the point where a run-of-the-mill ACL tear is not usually going to end your career for good.

And if you are a recreational athlete, even at high levels of performance, you most certainly will be able to continue to do what you love.

One additional question that you may have interest in is whether the ACL needs to be fixed surgically in all cases. It’s my recommendation that you should definitely have the ACL repaired surgically. Why?

1. ACL Tears do not heal on their own.

2. Continuing activity with a torn ACL puts the meniscus at a higher risk of tearing, which can lead to arthritis down the road.

Here’s a video on the topic for additional explanation.

Biologics May Contribute To Positive Outcomes

Additionally, our biologic enhancement of healing will continue to improve with the advancement of growth factors, PRP and nutrition, and stem cells. As this happens, the time it takes to return to sports after ACL injury will continue to decrease.

For an in-depth conversation on the topic of biologics, click the link above to listen to my discussion on the topic on the VSON Podcast recently.

“How likely is it to tear the ACL in the same knee twice?”

Now let’s talk about the actual likelihood of having the bad luck to tear your ACL not once, but twice.  

The short of it is that after your surgery, your knee will be back to about the same percentage in terms of risk of re-tearing as the risk of tearing was initially. Other factors may contribute to the risk, though.

Watch the video below for a more in-depth explanation

Who are some famous athletes who have torn their ACL Twice?

If you're in find yourself in the unenviable situation of having torn your ACL a second time, don't despair! These great athletes who have recently injured their ACL a second time and bounced back to enjoy success.

Lindsey Vonn - Right Knee

Sam Bradford - Left Knee

Jabari Parker - Left Knee

Vonn went on to become one of the most successful skiers of all time, and Bradford and Parker enjoyed career resurgences even after their injuries, though they haven’t achieved the heights they once seemed destined for. However, in any sport, extenuating circumstances above and beyond the injury are always a factor.

For more information on a recent study with skiers that sheds some light on the topic of ACL recovery, click here.

https://williamsterett.com/blog-dr-william-sterett/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-acl-surgery