ACL reconstruction surgery is the mainstream treatment for ACL tissue tearing. How are the surgery costs and insurance claims calculated? Our Bowtie Medical Information Team will break down the surgery details and costs step by step.
Reasons for ACL Reconstruction Surgery
ACL reconstruction plays a critical role in maintaining knee joint stability, especially during movements involving twisting, pivoting, or sudden changes in direction. Tearing of the ACL tissues causes the knee joint to become significantly unstable, making daily activities and exercise more challenging.
Purpose of ACL reconstruction Surgery
- Restoring Knee Joint Function: After successful ACL reconstruction, patients can return to their pre-injury activity levels. This surgery is particularly important for individuals engaged in high-intensity sports, such as athletes.up>1
- Reducing the Risk of Meniscus Damage: Studies show that prompt reconstruction after an ACL tear can reduce the likelihood of meniscus tears.2
- Preventing Joint Degeneration: Research also indicates that delaying reconstruction after an ACL tear may increase long-term risks of joint degeneration.2
ACL reconstruction Surgery Procedure
Pre-Surgery Preparation
Surgeons will assess the patient’s knee joint stability, range of motion, and overall health to determine if surgery is necessary. Typically, ACL reconstruction surgery is scheduled 3 to 6 weeks after the injury to allow inflammation to subside and initial physical therapy to begin.3
Surgical Steps
- Anesthesia: Depending on the surgeon’s recommendation and patient preference, either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia is administered.
- Incision and Arthroscopy: Small incisions are made around the knee, and an arthroscope (a small camera) is inserted to examine the inside of the knee joint.
- Graft Harvesting: A graft is taken from the patient’s hamstring tendon or patellar tendon to replace the torn ACL reconstruction.
- Removal of Damaged Tissue: The torn portion of the ACL reconstruction is removed to prepare for graft placement.
- Creating Bone Tunnels: Holes are drilled into the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) to accommodate the graft.
- Graft Insertion and Fixation: The harvested graft is threaded through the tunnels. One end is secured to the femur with a button, while the other is fixed to the tibia using bioabsorbable screws.
Post-Surgery
After the procedure, patients will be hospitalized for observation. Depending on the surgery, they typically stay for 1 to 2 days before being discharged.
Rehabilitation and Precautions After ACL reconstruction Surgery
After completing ACL reconstruction surgery, patients must undergo a series of rehabilitation programs to gradually regain their pre-injury activity levels. Generally, it takes at least six months—or longer—to fully recover.4
ACL reconstruction Surgery Rehabilitation Timeline
| Post-Surgery Period | Rehabilitation Focus |
| 0 – 2 Months | - Focus on pain management and reducing swelling around the knee (e.g., elevating the leg, taking prescribed painkillers).
- Early physical therapy aims for a joint range of motion of 0-90° in the first week and 0-120° by the second week.5
- Patients use crutches/braces for mobility and may wear a knee brace for stability if needed.6
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| 2 – 3 Months | - Strength-building physical therapy for the lower limbs, emphasizing balance training and coordination exercises.
- Low-impact activities like light jogging, stair climbing, or arm-supported swimming begin, alongside resuming normal daily activities.7
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| 3 – 6 Months | - Gradually increase activity levels with a focus on agility and strength training to prepare for higher-intensity activities.
- Physical therapy targets thigh muscle strength, balance, and coordination.
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| 6 – 12 Months | - Full recovery is expected, though patients should follow their personal progress and doctor’s advice before resuming high-intensity sports/training.
- Athletes whose ligaments recover to 90% of pre-injury strength can return to competitive sports.
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Risks of Complications After ACL reconstruction Surgery
In addition to potential issues like wound inflammation, bleeding, hematoma, or poor healing, ACL reconstruction surgery carries the following risks:
- Risk of Reinjury: Studies show that patients resuming “Level I Sports” (e.g., soccer, basketball—high-intensity sports with frequent pivoting) after surgery face a 29.7% chance of reinjury within two years—four times higher than those avoiding such activities.8
- Degenerative Arthritis: Although anterior ACL reconstruction (ACL) surgery reduces further damage to the meniscus and cartilage, over half of patients develop degenerative arthritis 12–14 years post-surgery due to injury effects and neuromuscular changes.9
- Knee Joint Laxity: 1–8% of patients may experience knee laxity due to graft stretching or rupture.10
- Surgical Complications: While complications occur in less than 1% of cases, risks like bacterial infections or pulmonary embolism remain possible.
- Patellar Tendonitis: When using a “bone-patellar tendon-bone” (BPTB) graft, patients may experience anterior knee pain when kneeling or squatting, potentially leading to patellar tendonitis.11
Since an anterior ACL reconstruction tear cannot heal on its own—except in mild cases—patients typically require reconstruction surgery to restore mobility.
ACL reconstruction Surgery Costs
Private Hospitals
| Hospital | Procedure | Cost (HKD) |
| Gleneagles Hospital | Arthroscopic Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction (Hamstring Graft) – Single Leg | $119,000 – $154,700 |
| Arthroscopic Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction (Hamstring Graft) – Single Leg | $151,000 – $196,300 |
| Arthroscopic Posterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction – Single Leg | $154,000 – $200,200 |
| Arthroscopic Examination + Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction – Single Leg | $118,000 – $153,400 |
| CUHK Medical Centre | Arthroscopic Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction | $111,360 – $222,800 |
| Arthroscopic Posterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction | $162,500 – $325,000 |
| Union Hospital | Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction | $126,390 |
*Based on historical median data.
Note: Fees were collected on January 21, 2025, and are for reference only. Please consult hospitals for detailed pricing.
Muscle Soreness After a Marathon: Normal or a Warning Sign?
Feeling muscle soreness for 2–3 days after a marathon or long training session is normal. However, if muscle or joint pain persists for a week or more—or disrupts daily life—it could signal an injury!
Sprains, ACL reconstruction tears, and fractures are common injuries among sports enthusiasts. Beyond the recovery time, these injuries come with medical expenses. Even without surgery, long-term physical therapy and outpatient visits can add up.
For just HK$62/month*, Bowtie’s Pink Accident Medical Insurance provides up to HK$420,000 in annual coverage. It includes outpatient care (e.g., wound cleaning, stitching), physical therapy, Chinese bone-setting, chiropractic care, MRI scans, hospitalization, and surgeries—covering over 700 occupations, including sports coaches and disciplined services.
*Basic premium for a 30-year-old male insured under Bowtie Pink Accident Medical Insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to fully recover from a ACL reconstruction tear?
A ACL reconstruction tear typically takes 6–9 months to heal fully. Athletes may require longer to return to competition. Healthcare professionals will advise when it’s safe to resume physical activity—avoid exercising beforehand to prevent reinjury.
How should I care for my knee after ACL reconstruction surgery?
For the first two weeks post-surgery, wear an external brace to stabilize the knee and use crutches for mobility. To manage swelling, ice the knee 3–4 times daily and wear compression stockings. Regular exercise is essential to restore muscle strength and mobility.
Bowtie Real Customer Claim Case – Covered Up to 90%!
Mr. Chan (pseudonym), a Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance – Flexi Plan (Regular) customer, injured his left knee ligaments and tendons playing basketball with friends in May after sports facilities reopened post-pandemic. He underwent ACL reconstruction repair surgery and stayed in the hospital for 3 days and 2 nights. Bowtie reimbursed over HK$110,000 in medical expenses—92% of the total cost!
Bowtie Voluntary Health Insurance Fully Covers ACL reconstruction Surgery Costs!
Beyond Bowtie Pink, Voluntary Health Insurance offers protection too! For full reimbursement, add the Bowtie Gleneagles Hospital Wellness Package or Bowtie CUHK Medical Centre Wellness Package for HK$200/month (flat rate for all ages). Both packages include ACL reconstruction reconstruction as a designated surgery eligible for full reimbursement* (Flexi Plan customers only), plus an extra HK$500 cash benefit.
Sources
- Dhillon, KS. “Doc” Do I Need an Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction? What Happens If I Do Not Reconstruct the ACL reconstruction? Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, 1 Nov. 2014, pp. 42–47
- Toanen, Cécile, et al. Is There Any Benefit in Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction in Patients Older than 60 Years? The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 45, no. 4, 5 Jan. 2017, pp. 832–837
- ACL Reconstruction Surgery: Procedure and Recovery | HSS. Hospital for Special Surgery, 18 July 2024
- 運動傷及前十字韌帶不容忽視 快速縫合裝置減省手術時間 – 香港港安醫院–荃灣. Twah.org.hk, 7 May 2024
- Krans, Brian. ACL Reconstruction. Healthline, 25 July 2012
- Benjamin Domb M.D. ACL Injury Recovery Timeline. Benjamindombmd.com, 2024
- UCSF Health. After ACL Surgery. Ucsfhealth.org, 2024
- Grindem, Hege, et al. Simple Decision Rules Can Reduce Reinjury Risk by 84% after ACL Reconstruction: The Delaware-Oslo ACL Cohort Study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 50, no. 13, 9 May 2016, pp. 804–808
- E. Carlos Rodriguez-Merchan, and Carlos A Encinas-Ullan. Knee Osteoarthritis Following Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction: Frequency, Contributory Elements, and Recent Interventions to Modify the Route of Degeneration. PubMed, vol. 10, no. 11, 1 Nov. 2022, pp. 951–958
- Knipe, Henry. Anterior ACL reconstruction Reconstruction Complications (Overview) | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. Radiopaedia
- Alentorn-Geli, Eduard, et al. The Presence of Patellar Tendinopathy in the Bone–Patellar Tendon–Bone Autograft May Increase the Risk of Anterior ACL reconstruction Graft Failure. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, vol. 27, no. 3, 23 Aug. 2018, pp. 766–772
