My MRI says my ACL tore off the bone. Can it be repaired?

What your MRI report is describing

Radiologists may write "proximal tear", "femoral-sided tear" or "avulsion from the femoral footprint". These all mean the ligament has come away at or near its upper attachment, rather than snapping through the middle.

This pattern is the one most suited to repair, but the MRI cannot always show how frayed the ligament is or whether it has started to shrink back. Those details matter as much as the location.

What makes repair more likely to work

• A fresh injury, ideally seen and treated within a few weeks
• A ligament that is long enough to reach the bone without tension
• Tissue that holds stitches well rather than being shredded
• No major instability from other ligaments that would overload the repair
• Realistic goals discussed openly, particularly for young players in pivoting sports

What you can do now

Use crutches if walking is painful, ice the knee for short periods and work on getting it fully straight. Avoid testing it with twisting or sport. Most importantly, book an assessment soon rather than waiting for the swelling to settle on its own, because the window for repair closes as the ligament stump changes.

If the knee locks, cannot straighten at all or swells hugely within hours, seek urgent review, as this can signal a meniscus tear or bleeding in the joint that needs attention.

At your consultation at Aman Hospital

Dr. Gelber will examine the stability of the knee, look at the MRI images himself and check the meniscus, cartilage and other ligaments. If repair is a reasonable option, he will explain that reconstruction remains the fallback during the same operation, so you are never left without a plan.