ACL Reconstruction in Elizabethtown, KY
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located toward the front of the knee. It is the most common ligament to be injured. The ACL is often stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way). Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD, August 2026.
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What is an ACL Tear?
The anterior cruciate ligament — the ACL — is one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee. It runs diagonally through the middle of the joint, connecting the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone), and its job is to keep the knee from sliding forward or rotating out of place during movement.
When the ACL tears, the knee loses that stabilizing tether. Most patients describe feeling or hearing a pop at the moment of injury, followed by swelling within a few hours and a sense that the knee "isn't right" — that it shifts, gives out, or can't be trusted on a pivot or a stair.
ACL tears do not heal on their own. The ligament has a poor blood supply, and a complete tear leaves the two ends of the ligament unable to reconnect. In active patients, the standard of care is ACL reconstruction surgery — replacing the torn ligament with a graft that the body rebuilds into a new, functional ACL over four to six months.
Types of ACL Injuries
ACL injuries are diagnosed through clinical examination and MRI, and can be classified by the amount of damage to the ligament (partial or complete disruption). Injury to the ACL is usually a complete disruption, classifying it as a Grade III complete tear.
Grade I Sprain - There is some stretching and micro-tearing of the ligament, but the ligament is intact and the joint remains stable. These injuries rarely require surgery.
Grade II Sprain (Partial Disruption) - There is some tearing and separation of the ligament fibers and the ligament is partially disrupted. The joint is moderately unstable. Depending on the activity level of the patient and the degree of instability, these tears may or may not require surgery.
Grade III Sprain (Complete Disruption) - There is total rupture of the ligament fibers. The ligament is completely disrupted and the joint is unstable. Surgery is usually recommended in young or athletic people who engage in sports that involve cutting or pivoting.
Symptoms of an ACL Tear
If you've recently injured your knee, an ACL tear is likely if you experienced any of the following:
A "pop" at the moment of injury. Most patients hear or feel a distinct pop. About 50% of ACL tears are accompanied by an audible pop loud enough that other people nearby can hear it.
Sudden knee swelling within hours. Significant swelling within the first 6–24 hours is a hallmark of an ACL tear, caused by bleeding inside the joint (hemarthrosis).
Inability to continue the activity. Most patients cannot return to their game, practice, run, or activity. The knee feels unstable or unsafe to put weight on.
A feeling that the knee is "giving out." Even days or weeks after the initial injury, the knee buckles or shifts unexpectedly during walking, stairs, or pivots.
Loss of full range of motion. The knee may feel stiff, locked, or unable to fully straighten or bend.
Pain along the joint line and deep inside the knee. Tenderness is usually inside the joint rather than along the kneecap or below the knee.
Discomfort walking on uneven surfaces. Patients often describe stairs, hills, and grass as feeling unsafe.
How an ACL Tear Happens
The ACL can tear in several common ways. About 70% of ACL tears are non-contact injuries — they happen without anyone touching the knee:
Changing direction rapidly (cutting, pivoting)
Landing awkwardly from a jump
Stopping suddenly while running
Twisting with the foot planted (the classic "knee turned one way, foot stayed the other")
Direct contact or collision — football tackles, soccer slide tackles, skiing falls
The sports with the highest ACL injury rates are basketball, soccer, football, skiing, gymnastics, lacrosse, volleyball, and cheerleading.
Female athletes tear their ACLs at 2–8 times the rate of male athletes in the same sports. Several factors contribute: differences in hip-to-knee alignment, neuromuscular control, hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratio, and the way the ACL behaves under hormonal cycles. Targeted neuromuscular training programs can cut female ACL injury risk significantly, and Aptiva's sports medicine and physical therapy teams provide ACL injury prevention training for athletes and teams.
How an ACL Tear Is Diagnosed
At Aptiva Health, an ACL tear diagnosis usually takes a single visit:
History. Your surgeon will ask about the mechanism of injury — what you were doing, whether you felt a pop, how quickly the knee swelled, and whether the knee has felt unstable since.
Physical examination. Specific tests — the Lachman test, the anterior drawer test, and the pivot-shift test — are highly accurate for identifying an ACL tear, often within minutes.
Imaging. An MRI confirms the diagnosis, shows the location of the tear, and identifies associated injuries (the meniscus, the cartilage, the MCL, or bone bruising) that are present in roughly half of ACL tears. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling without the multi-week wait that hospital-based imaging typically requires.
Treatment plan. After the exam and imaging, your surgeon will walk you through the diagnosis, the associated injuries, the surgical and non-surgical options, and the recovery timeline. You leave the visit with a written plan.
Treatment for an ACL Tear
ACL tear treatment depends on the patient's age, activity level, sport, work demands, and whether other knee structures (meniscus, cartilage, other ligaments) are also injured.
Non-surgical treatment
A complete ACL tear will not heal on its own, but some patients — typically older, lower-activity, or unwilling to undergo surgery — can manage a torn ACL with bracing, physical therapy, activity modification, and quad/hamstring strengthening. This approach trades knee stability for avoidance of surgery, and it works best for patients who don't need to cut, pivot, or land at speed.
Surgical treatment: ACL reconstruction
For the majority of patients — anyone who wants to return to sports, agility-based work, or an active lifestyle — the standard of care is ACL reconstruction surgery. The torn ligament is replaced with a graft (most often the patient's own patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, or quadriceps tendon; sometimes a cadaver allograft), and the new ligament is anchored in tunnels drilled into the femur and tibia. Over four to six months, the body remodels the graft into a functional ACL.
Learn more about ACL reconstruction surgery →
What if other parts of the knee are also injured?
Roughly half of ACL tears come with a meniscus tear, cartilage injury, MCL sprain, or bone bruise. Aptiva's sports orthopedic surgeons routinely address these in the same operation as the ACL reconstruction — repairing the meniscus, smoothing or restoring damaged cartilage, and managing concurrent ligament injuries — so the patient heals from one surgery rather than several.
When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by a sports orthopedic surgeon promptly — within days, not weeks — if you experienced any of the following:
A "pop" in your knee during sports or a fall, followed by swelling
Inability to bear weight on the knee
A feeling that the knee is unstable or "gives out"
Swelling that won't resolve
Significant pain inside the knee with movement
Delaying evaluation can let secondary injuries worsen — particularly meniscus tears, which become harder to repair the longer they go untreated. Aptiva Health offers same-day and next-day evaluations for new knee injuries; in many cases, a patient can be seen, examined, scheduled for MRI, and walking out with a treatment plan within 48 hours of the injury.
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Our ACL Surgery Team - Elizabethtown, KY
J. Steve Smith, MD - Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
Dr. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine at Aptiva Health and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, trained at the University of Rochester, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he served on the medical staff for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He has performed thousands of orthopedic procedures on patients and athletes of all ages and treats the full range of knee conditions, from sports injuries and meniscus and ligament tears to knee arthritis and knee replacement. He has been nominated as the best orthopedic surgeon in Kentucky in 2026.
Michael Gilbert, PA-C Orthopedic Physician Assistant
Michael Gilbert has been an orthopedic physician assistant for 30 years, with experience across general orthopedics, sports orthopedics, and orthopedic spine. For knee patients, Michael provides same-week new-patient evaluations, conservative-care coordination, knee injections, and post-operative follow-up — making sure imaging, bracing, therapy, and pre-operative planning happen on schedule. Michael currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Kentucky Army National Guard as Chief Surgeon. He is the first physician assistant in the history of the Kentucky Army National Guard to hold this esteemed position.
Schedule an acl Consultation in Elizabethtown — Schedule Now
Aptiva Health – Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Drive times:
10 minutes from Fort Knox
12 minutes from Radcliff
15 minutes from Vine Grove
20 minutes from Cecilia and Hodgenville
25 minutes from Brandenburg and Sonora
30 minutes from Bardstown and Leitchfield
45 minutes from south Louisville via I-65
Communities we serve: Elizabethtown, Radcliff, Fort Knox, Vine Grove, Cecilia, Sonora, Hodgenville, Bardstown, Leitchfield, Brandenburg, Shepherdsville, and across Hardin, Meade, Nelson, LaRue, and Grayson counties.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Walk-in injury care availability may vary; call ahead to confirm.
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACL Reconstruction in Elizabethtown, KY
Do I need surgery for an ACL tear?
Not every ACL injury requires surgery. Treatment depends on the severity of the tear, knee stability, activity level, and your personal goals. Patients hoping to return to sports, physically demanding work, or activities involving cutting and pivoting may be evaluated for ACL reconstruction, while others may be candidates for non-surgical care such as physical therapy, strengthening, and bracing.
At Aptiva Health Elizabethtown, J. Steve Smith, MD, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, evaluates ACL injuries and helps patients understand the treatment options that may be appropriate for their needs.
How long is recovery after ACL reconstruction surgery?
Recovery after ACL reconstruction varies by patient and typically progresses over several months. The timeline can depend on the surgical approach, graft selection, whether additional knee injuries are treated, and progress during rehabilitation.
Dr. Smith and the Aptiva Health team coordinate care throughout the recovery process, including access to physical therapy to support strength, mobility, and a safe return to activity.
What graft is used for ACL reconstruction?
ACL reconstruction uses a graft to replace the injured ligament. Depending on the patient and procedure, graft options may include tissue from the patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, quadriceps tendon, or donor tissue.
During your consultation, Dr. J. Steve Smith will review the available options and discuss considerations such as your age, activity level, athletic goals, previous knee procedures, and overall treatment plan.
Can a meniscus tear be treated during ACL surgery?
ACL injuries can occur along with damage to other structures in the knee, including the meniscus, cartilage, or other ligaments.
If additional knee injuries are identified, Dr. Smith can discuss whether they may be addressed as part of the same surgical plan as ACL reconstruction.
How quickly can I be seen for an ACL injury in Elizabethtown?
Aptiva Health Elizabethtown is focused on providing convenient access for patients with new knee and sports injuries. Appointment and imaging availability can vary, but the team works to coordinate timely orthopedic evaluations and diagnostic services when appropriate.
Patients can begin with an evaluation through Aptiva Health, with J. Steve Smith, MD serving as the primary orthopedic surgeon for ACL reconstruction and sports medicine care.
What happens if an ACL tear is left untreated?
An ACL tear may lead to ongoing knee instability, especially during activities that involve turning, pivoting, or sudden changes in direction. Repeated instability may also place additional stress on other structures within the knee.
An evaluation with Dr. Smith can help determine the extent of the injury and whether surgical or non-surgical treatment should be considered.
Is ACL reconstruction an outpatient surgery?
ACL reconstruction is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning many patients are able to return home the same day.
Before surgery, Dr. Smith and the Aptiva Health surgical team will review your procedure, discuss any additional treatment that may be needed, and explain what to expect during recovery.
Who performs ACL surgery for Aptiva Health Elizabethtown patients?
ACL reconstruction care for Aptiva Health Elizabethtown patients is led by J. Steve Smith, MD, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.
Dr. Smith provides orthopedic and sports medicine expertise for patients with ACL tears and other knee injuries. Depending on the individual treatment plan, care may also include diagnostic imaging, non-surgical management, surgical treatment, and coordinated rehabilitation through Aptiva Health.
Does insurance cover ACL reconstruction surgery?
Coverage for ACL reconstruction depends on your insurance plan, medical necessity requirements, and individual benefits. Aptiva Health works with many insurance plans and can help patients understand applicable coverage before treatment.
ACL injuries related to a work injury or auto accident may also involve workers' compensation or applicable auto-injury coverage.
Why are ACL injuries common in female athletes?
Research has identified several factors that may contribute to differences in ACL injury risk among female athletes, including biomechanics, strength, movement patterns, and anatomical differences.
Aptiva Health's sports medicine and physical therapy teams can help athletes focus on strength, balance, movement mechanics, and neuromuscular training as part of an injury-prevention program.
Looking for an ACL surgeon in Elizabethtown?
Patients in Elizabethtown and surrounding communities can turn to Aptiva Health for coordinated orthopedic and sports medicine care. J. Steve Smith, MD, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, serves as the primary provider for ACL reconstruction and can guide patients from initial evaluation through treatment and rehabilitation.