ACL Reconstruction Surgery

There are tens of thousands of ACL surgeries done in Canada every year. Find the right surgeon that fits your needs below, serving Canadians in major cities like Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec.

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Reviewed and approved by Dr. Sean Haffey
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Decide where to go

To get private surgery in Canada, you'll generally need to travel out of province. So your first step is deciding where makes sense for you.
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Search by specialty

The Surgency app makes it easy to search Surgeons by specialty, location, and procedure.
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Schedule a consult

You can schedule a consult directly on the Surgency platform. It's secure, private, and fast.
Why use Surgency to book your surgery

For Canadians who want surgery in weeks

Surgency is a free resource by a Canadian physician in the public system to help you find the right surgeon for your needs.
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How do I get a private ACL reconstruction surgery in Canada?

  1. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private ACL reconstruction.
  • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
  1. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
  • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
  • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350
  1. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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  2. Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs (i.e. total or partial replacement); review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
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  3. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
  • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.
  • Regarding financing, you can learn more about your options here.
  1. Surgery. The clinic will provide you with attendance instructions.
  • The operation usually takes 2-3 hours.
  • Depending on the clinic, you might be discharged within hours of your surgery, or stay for 1-2 nights.
  1. Post-operative care. The clinic will provide you with an extensive ACL reconstruction surgery recovery plan that includes physiotherapy, pain management, and further monitoring.
  • Note: please take post-operative care seriously. The more diligently this process is followed, the better the outcome tends to be.

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older woman recovering from knee surgery on a low impact run

ACL reconstruction surgery frequently asked questions

How do I know if ACL reconstruction surgery is right for me?

ACL surgery may be advisable depending on the severity of your injury and your desired lifestyle.

There are three kinds of ligament injuries: stretched, but not torn; partial tear; complete tear. If the ACL is completely torn, then surgical reconstruction is typically needed for active people because the ligament will not heal on its own. Surgical reconstruction is generally needed for partial tears if you're hoping to return to a sport, you have an active lifestyle, or you don't want to risk complete tearing. Stretched ligaments do not need surgical reconstruction.

Your surgeon will advise you on your options based on your unique circumstances.

How much does private ACL reconstruction surgery cost in Canada?

ACL reconstruction surgery is a major surgery with significant costs. Private clinics in Canada typically charge $8,000 to $18,000. In the United States, the average cost for ACL reconstruction is CA$48,000.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, complexity, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

You also need to take into account the cost of travel and accommodation when travelling out of province.

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Do I need a referral?

No, you do not need a referral for private ACL reconstruction surgery in Canada. You can book a consultation directly with a surgeon, and they will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics.

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What are the risks if I delay or don't get ACL surgery?

The answer to this question depends heavily on your unique circumstances. Please consult your surgeon for tailored advice.

In general, delaying ACL surgery by 6-12 months presents several potential risks:

  • Meniscal and cartilage damage
  • Developing osteoarthritis and irreversible joint degeneration
  • Worse outcomes post-surgery in terms of pain and function
  • Further injuries, especially for young and/or active individuals

If you need ACL surgery, and do not get it, then you may risk:

  • Chronic instability
  • Subsequent injuries to your meniscus and cartilage
  • Substantial limitations to daily life (i.e. unable to return to sport or active hobbies)
  • Disability

How do I prepare for ACL surgery?

Your surgeon will provide you with guidance on how to prepare, but you can expect some pre-surgery exercises to help with stiffness, muscle weakness, and range of motion issues. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop to improve healing outcomes. Depending on your weight, you may be advised to diet and exercise to reduce surgical risks and improve healing outcomes.

Home prep: We recommend taking the time to rearrange your home to prepare for the first few months after surgery. Ensure everything you need is within easy reach and remove anything that presents a tripping hazard (chords, sliding rugs, loose items). You might also consider installing safety equipment like a shower chair and safety bars in your bathroom.

Support: Try to arrange for someone to stay with you for the first few days after surgery, and someone close by who can reach you in the event of an emergency for the first several weeks/months after surgery.

Work: ACL surgery recovery is difficult. If possible, you will likely need to request time off work to recover.

Post-surgery practice: You might consider 'practicing' daily activities with substantially limited range of motion, such as getting in and out of the car, getting in and out of bed, putting on and taking off shoes, etc.

When can I return to sports or active hobbies after ACL surgery?

Approximately 90% of patients with ACL tears want to get back on the field or court ASAP. But, in general, recovery to the point of returning to sport takes 9-12 months, with some high impact sports requiring up to 24 months. 65% of patients with ACL tears are able to successfully return to pre-injury levels of activity.

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What can I expect from the ACL reconstruction surgery recovery process?

The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:

Week 1:

  • Pain, discomfort, emotion, more pain, stiffness, frustration. Week 1 is not fun.
  • Goals: Pain management, inflammation control, surgical graft protection, initial basic movement.
  • Activities:
    • Same day discharge (usually).
    • Crutch-assisted walking with little physio-directed weight bearing.
    • Basic exercises such as ankle pumps, quadriceps contractions, and passive range of motion exercises (only as directed).
    • Pain medication management and wound care (it will be advantageous to have a friend, family member, or caretaker support you for both in the first few days).

Weeks 2-4:

  • The next 3 weeks are still characterized by significant discomfort, swelling, frustration, and emotional highs and lows.
  • Goals: Restore knee extension to 0 degrees, achieve 90-120 degrees of flexion, quadriceps activation, start rehab.
  • Activities:
    • Continuing to use crutches, and potentially transitioning to just one crutch or a cane.
    • Increase walking and weight-bearing, practicing normal walking patterns to avoid developing a limp.
    • Daily exercises and physio focused on a developing range of motion and simple strength building exercises.

Weeks 5-12:

  • Focus and diligence on exercises will likely pay off, and you'll likely be able to walk again unassisted and return to driving.
  • Goals: Achieve fill range of motion (0 to 130 degrees), increasing physical therapy, walk unassisted, resume most normal activities.
  • Activities:
    • More challenging physical therapy in order to improve range of motion and build strength.
    • Daily exercises. Possibly low impact activities like swimming and stationary cycling (only if cleared by healthcare team).
    • Walking longer distances—transitioning from the use of walking aids around week 6-8.

Weeks 13-52:

  • The worst of the recovery is likely behind you. But you'll need to stay on top of physical therapy and listen carefully to your body in the year post operation (and beyond).
  • Goals: Return to low impact sports and hobbies, achieve 90% strength symmetry between legs, focus on long-term knee health.
  • Activities:
    • Physical therapy may continue the entire first year post operation, gradually bringing you back to your activity levels pre-surgery.
    • You will be able to return to low impact sports like golf, tennis, swimming, or cycling. For anything high impact, please consult your surgeon and physio. Most functional recovery happens within one year of surgery, but many patients need to continue working up to pre-injury levels of activity for up to 2 years.
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Looking for ACL reconstruction surgeon?

Browse vetted ACL surgeons across Canada. Compare prices, qualifications, locations.

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