My 17 year old daughter had a complete tear of her ACL. Our surgeon told us that she did not need an ACL unless she was very active. He said a brace was available to keep the knee from going backwards. She did have the surgery. It was a double bundle which is suppose to make the knee more like it was before the tear. She has complete motion now. She tore her ACL on Palm Sunday 2006 and is hoping for a release in June 2007. She had therapy 6 weeks before the surgery and until December 2006. She is now allowed complete activity with a knee brace. Hopefully the brace will be a done deal in June. Just a note that her surgeon was very conservative. Other people we know who had the same surgery didn't need any brace after they completed their PT. Hope this is helpful.
I have managed for nearly a year now with only part of my acl in tact. I partly tore it last may along with my meniscus and mcl. My mcl and meniscus have healed but my acl obviously has not. I guess each person is individual and maybe your hubby does need it badly, but dont rush into anything too soon but still you don't want to risk further damage by not going ahead with the op
noodles
Orthopedists are pretty eager to operate, so if one told me that I could get by with a brace, I'd be pretty happy to.
Enoch Choi, MD
ACL repair is a pretty big operation, with significant recovery time.
But i think ur hubby should have it fixed when he can, cause being a cop, his goin to need his knee to function.
good luck