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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Injuries/Fractures/Cuts > ACL Injury
Posted on: 12/10/2010
Question
I'm 16 years old. I had a 3º tear in my ACL while playing soccer. My doctor recomended not to have surgery, because he said my muscles will be able to replace it, and gave me two months to see if that happens. It's already been seven weeks since I was injured, and my knee isn't feeling better, and he still insists that I shouldn't have the surgery. If I want to play college soccer should I have the surgey?
Answer
I am surprised by this advice. Standard of care is ACL reconstruction surgery for a teenage athlete wishing to return to a sport like soccer. A torn ACL does not heal, and one's muscles cannot compensate for the associated knee instability. The knee is at high risk of giving way and causing additional injury, that can be more difficult to fix. You should see a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon.