What Are The Odds and Risks of Re-Tearing My ACL on the Same Knee After Surgery?

It’s actually not uncommon to see world-class skiers achieve their highest potential after they have a major knee injury.
— Dr. Sterett

As a specialist in the exciting and ever-changing field of Sports Medicine, I work with many elite athletes who suffer multiple knee injuries, so I can tell you first-hand that it's not uncommon for athletes to bounce back stronger than ever from ACL injuries. 

In fact, according to a recent study, it's actually not uncommon to see skiers achieve their highest potential after they have a major knee injury.

"Ok, doc," you might be saying, "those are world-class athletes...what about me?"

Well, you aren't alone in wondering what the chances of re-tearing the ACL are. In fact, I get the question so much that I decided to put a video together answering the question for you!

Here you go... If you're wondering what the chances of tearing your ACL a second time are, hopefully this will help.


Dr. William Sterett, M.D.

Dr. Bill Sterett is the Head Team Physician for the US Women’s Alpine Ski Team and has been since 1997, with athletes over the years such as Picabo Street, Kristina Koznick, Caroline LaLive, Julia Mancuso and Mikaela Shiffrin. He has served as a US Olympic Committee Team Physician for the past four Winter Olympic Games, with the US Olympic Committee entrusting the care of their athletes to Dr. Sterett in Salt Lake City, Torino, Vancouver and Sochi.

Dr. Sterett is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and is one of the few physicians who have earned a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.

Dr. Sterett has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and has lectured regionally, nationally and internationally on hundreds of occasions over the past twenty years. He currently holds patents on orthopedic devices involved in Joint Preservation and works as a consultant to Arthrex and Biomet sports medicine companies.

Dr. Sterett started the Athletic Training Fellowship Program in Vail, Colorado, and served as its Fellowship Director for 15 years. Additionally, he has served as the Medical Director for the Eagle County School District for 14 years, making daily return-to-play decisions and treating local student athletes. Currently, he serves as the Medical Director for the Vail Valley Surgery Centers and has for the past 12 years.

http://www.drsterett.com
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Why Do Female Athletes Have A Higher Risk of ACL Tears and How Can ACL Tears in Women Be Prevented?

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What Are the Most Frequent Skier and Snowboarder Injuries? (Statistics Info-Graphic)