About ACL and sports knee injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the knee during turning and jumping. ACL tears often happen in football, basketball and skiing, and frequently occur together with meniscus or cartilage damage.
Symptoms
A popping sensation at the moment of injury, rapid swelling, pain and a feeling that the knee gives way. Meniscus tears may cause locking or catching.
Diagnosis
Clinical examination tests the stability of the knee. MRI shows the ligament, menisci and cartilage and helps plan surgery.
Treatment in China
- Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using the patient’s own tendon or a graft.
- Meniscus repair whenever possible, to protect the knee in the long term.
- Cartilage procedures and treatment of other ligament injuries.
- Rehabilitation led by sports medicine teams, with a staged return to sport.
Why patients choose China
Peking University Third Hospital’s Institute of Sports Medicine has cared for China’s national athletes for decades. Ao Yingfang, who led the institute, was elected the first president of the Sports Medicine Physicians Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association in 2019. The hospital also ranks fourth nationally in orthopedics.
Top hospitals in China for Orthopedics
Fudan 2023 reputation score · bars are relative to the leader in this specialty.
- 1 Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Beijing 10.1
- 2 Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Shanghai 8.7
- 3 Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) Beijing 7.9
- 4 Peking University Third Hospital Beijing 5.8
- 5 Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 5.5
- 6 West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 4.6
- 7 Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University Shijiazhuang 4.0
- 8 Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University Shanghai 2.5
- 9 Peking University People’s Hospital Beijing 2.0
- 10 Tianjin Hospital Tianjin 1.3
Nominated hospitals (15)
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- Xi’an Honghui HospitalXi’an
- Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalNanjing
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- Ruijin HospitalShanghai
- Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical UniversityXi’an
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhou
- Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai
- Shanghai Ninth People’s HospitalShanghai
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an
- First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhou
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing
Hospitals to consider
Peking University Third Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Reproductive medicine
- #1 Sports medicine
Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Dermatology
- #1 Infectious diseases
Beijing Jishuitan Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Orthopedics
- #3 Sports medicine
Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #2 Orthopedics
Specialists
- Sports injuries
- Anterior cruciate ligament injuries
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic treatment
Frequently asked questions
Do all ACL tears need surgery?
Not always. Less active people with a stable knee may do well with rehabilitation alone. Surgery is usually recommended for people who want to return to pivoting sports, have repeated giving-way, or have other damage such as a meniscus tear.
How long should I stay in China after ACL reconstruction?
Arthroscopic reconstruction usually needs a short hospital stay. Plan for the first follow-up and the start of rehabilitation before flying; your surgeon will advise on safe travel and a rehabilitation plan to continue at home.