I am going to have to have two ligaments in my knee repaired at the same time. The first is the medial collateral ligament. The second is the anterior cruciate ligament. The surgeon is going to use some of my hamstring to repair the medial collateral ligament. What do they use for the anterior cruciate ligament?

There are two main tendon grafts to choose from when reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The surgeon may use the hamstring on the other side or the patellar tendon from either side.

There are pros and cons to each choice. Using graft tissue from both sides may cause some temporary discomfort for you. Your age, weight, overall health, and activity level will help guide this decision.

It’s also possible to use donor graft from another person. There can be problems with this choice. Your body may reject the graft. It’s usually best to use your own tissue. You and your surgeon should discuss the best choice for you.