Can the ACL heal by itself?

Full ACL tears cannot heal on their own. These tears almost always need to be treated surgically, typically using a minimally invasive approach called arthroscopy. There are two powerful forces that work against ACL healing namely knee kinematics and the release of tissue plasminogen immediately after the injury. Even if we put your knee in a brace or cast to prevent movement, we cannot prevent the release of the enzyme into the knee which happens almost at the same time as the injury itself. While a very few patients may restore some of their lost function without surgery, the knee will remain unstable, and that means the chances of reinjuring it is very high.

Even partial ACL tears may require surgery if the injury involves other ligaments, tendons, or your knee cap.

Nonsurgical options like physical therapy and lifestyle modifications may be effective in some men and women who have little to no instability in the joint following a partial ACL tear, along with those who lead relatively sedentary, inactive lifestyles. Final decision should be taken by consultation with experts.