Artificial Ligament ACL Reconstruction
Tissue-sparing ACL reconstruction with the Jewel ACL™ artificial ligament for suitable patients — no tendon harvested from your leg, one site to heal.
ACL reconstruction has traditionally meant taking a tendon from elsewhere in your leg — usually the hamstring, patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon — and using it to rebuild the torn ligament. That remains a standard, well-established operation with a long track record, and for many patients it is still the right choice.
For suitable patients, Dr. Nitin N Sunku also offers ACL reconstruction with an artificial ligament: Jewel ACL™, a synthetic ligament now used in India. It is placed inside the knee to restore stability without harvesting healthy tendon from another part of the leg, so when it is used on its own there is only one site to heal — the knee. Whether it suits you is decided on examination and imaging, not on preference alone. The procedure is available at Raghava Multispeciality Hospital, Attibele and Health Nest Hospital, HSR Layout.
Understanding Your ACL Injury
What the ACL Does
The anterior cruciate ligament connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) inside the knee. It controls forward movement of the shin and limits excessive twisting. That matters in sport, but also on uneven ground, on stairs, and whenever you turn suddenly or change direction with your foot planted.
How It Tears
A sharp twist with the foot fixed on the ground, an awkward landing, a sudden turn, a slip or fall, or a road traffic accident. When the force on the knee exceeds the ligament’s strength, the ACL stretches or tears.
How It Feels
Pain and swelling come first. As the swelling settles, many people notice the knee feels unstable or simply cannot be trusted — on turns, on stairs, or stepping off a kerb. That loss of confidence is often the most telling symptom.
When Reconstruction Is Advised
Once a tear is confirmed, the plan is based on knee stability, age, activity level and lifestyle. For many patients, reconstruction is recommended to restore stability and to reduce the risk of further damage to the meniscus and cartilage from repeated giving-way.
Before choosing any graft, it is worth asking: Am I a suitable candidate for reconstruction? Which options suit me, and why? What are the benefits and risks of each in my case? What will rehabilitation involve? When can I return to work and everyday activities? Each of these is answered in clinic.
Your ACL Reconstruction Options
Traditional Autograft Reconstruction
A graft is taken from your own hamstring, patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon and placed inside the knee to reproduce the function of the original ACL. Autografts have a long track record and remain a standard option. Because tissue is harvested from another part of the leg, recovery involves healing at two sites — the knee and the donor site — and the choice of donor site is weighed against your activity level, age and goals.
Artificial Ligament Reconstruction (Jewel ACL™)
A tissue-sparing approach that uses a purpose-designed synthetic ligament to restore stability. When Jewel ACL™ is used on its own, no tendon is taken from your leg, so there is no second wound and only the knee needs to heal. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to use smaller bone tunnels than a conventional graft, helping preserve natural bone, and your own tissue grows into the implant over time.
Who May Be Considered
Suitability is an individual clinical decision. It depends on the pattern of the injury, how long ago it happened, whether the meniscus or other ligaments are involved, knee alignment, the demands you will place on the knee, and how much avoiding a donor site matters to you. An artificial ligament is not a substitute for every autograft. Long-term evidence for synthetic ACL ligaments is more limited than for autografts, and earlier generations of synthetic ligament had problems — which is exactly why patient selection matters, and why you will be told plainly if your own tendon is the better choice for your knee.
About the Implant
According to the manufacturer, Xiros, Jewel ACL™ has been used in India since 2023 in thousands of ACL procedures, is designed and made in the United Kingdom, is UK MDR registered, and is made from a material with a long history of use in medical implants. Xiros reports more than 40 years of implant development. These are the manufacturer’s statements; the decision to use any implant in your knee rests on your own clinical assessment.
Rehabilitation Still Decides the Outcome
Whichever graft is used, the knee has to regain strength, control and confidence. The tissue-sparing approach may allow earlier mobilisation and weight-bearing as guided by the surgeon, but a structured, supervised rehabilitation programme remains essential for a safe return to work and sport.
Why Choose Our Clinic
Dr. Sunku performs both autograft and artificial-ligament ACL reconstruction, so the recommendation you get is not tied to a single technique. His arthroscopy and sports medicine fellowship training, and his work as a team doctor for professional athletes, shape the assessment: the ligament, the meniscus, the cartilage and what you need the knee to do are all weighed before a graft is chosen. If an autograft is the better option for your knee — or if a structured rehabilitation programme without surgery is reasonable — that is what you will be advised.
Recovery and Rehabilitation Overview
Week 0–2
Weight-bearing as guided by the surgeon, usually with crutches initially. Focus on controlling swelling, regaining full straightening of the knee, and switching the quadriceps back on. With no donor site, there is only one wound to manage.
Week 2–6
Progressive range of motion, normalising your walking pattern, and early closed-chain strengthening under supervision. Most people return to desk-based work in this window.
Week 6–12
Full range of motion expected. Strength, balance and single-leg control are built up; stationary cycling and swimming are usually introduced.
Month 3–6
Running, then agility and change-of-direction drills once strength testing shows the operated leg is closing the gap on the other side. Progression is a capability decision, not a calendar one.
Month 6 onwards
Return to pivoting and contact sport after clearance, based on strength, hop and movement testing rather than a fixed date.
Recovery depends on individual healing, rehabilitation and clinical guidance. Avoiding a donor site removes one source of pain and one wound; it does not remove the need for the knee itself to regain strength and control before sport.
Where we see ACL Reconstruction Patients
Raghava Multispeciality
Centred at Attibele, on Sarjapura–Attibele Road. Ideal for people in Anekal, Chandapura, Jigani, Bommasandra, and Electronic City.
In-person ReviewsHealth Nest Hospital
HSR Layout (24th Main, Sector 2). Convenient for HSR, Koramangala, BTM Layout, and Bellandur residents.
Follow-up VisitsArtificial Ligament ACL Reconstruction FAQ
Book an ACL Reconstruction Consultation in Bengaluru
If you have an ACL tear and want to understand all your reconstruction options — including whether an artificial ligament is suitable for you — bring your MRI for a proper assessment.
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Get expert advice for Artificial Ligament ACL Reconstruction today.
Locations
- • Raghava Multispeciality, Attibele
- • Health Nest Hospital, HSR Layout
Related treatments & patient guides
Orthopedic and sports medicine care in Bengaluru
Dr. Nitin N Sunku is a consultant orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. His day-to-day work spans knee and shoulder arthroscopy, ACL and other ligament injuries, meniscus tears, cartilage-friendly repair options when suitable, hip and knee arthritis assessment, joint replacement when quality of life is clearly limited, fracture and trauma review, and spine symptom evaluation with a staged plan. Care is built around a clear history, a focused examination, imaging only when it changes management, and honest discussion of non-operative versus operative paths.
Where appointments take place
The practice is anchored at Raghava Multispeciality Hospital, Attibele, on Sarjapura–Attibele Road, for many patients travelling from Attibele, Anekal, Chandapura, Jigani, Bommasandra, Electronic City, Sarjapura, and nearby towns who want a South Bengaluru base close to home or work. Health Nest Hospital, HSR Layout (24th Main Road, Sector 2) supports selected consultations and follow-up for people who live closer to HSR, Koramangala, BTM Layout, Bellandur, or Whitefield-side commutes. Both sites link into imaging and physiotherapy networks when referrals are needed.
Conditions and procedures people commonly ask about
Typical questions cover ACL tears and post-injury instability, meniscus repair versus partial trimming, recurrent shoulder dislocation, rotator cuff tears and frozen shoulder, shoulder arthroscopy for impingement, tennis or golfer's elbow flare-ups, runner's knee and shin splints, Achilles and other tendon overuse problems, early to advanced hip and knee arthritis, partial and total knee replacement timing, hip replacement for arthritis and selected fractures, acute collarbone and ankle fractures, workplace and road traffic injuries, and back pain with or without leg symptoms when urgent red flags have been excluded. Sports medicine visits often blend training-load advice with targeted rehabilitation goals rather than rushing to surgery.
Before you attend
Bring photo ID, insurance cards if applicable, a concise list of medicines and allergies, old MRI or X-ray reports on phone or paper, and footwear or clothing that lets the knee or shoulder be examined. Write down three goals—for example, "sleep without waking from knee pain," "jog five kilometres without swelling," or "lift my child safely." Those goals help prioritise whether bracing, injections, structured physiotherapy, arthroscopy, or joint replacement is discussed first.
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Articles under the blog section explain common symptoms and treatment concepts in plain language. They are educational, may simplify complex decisions, and should always be confirmed in clinic after examination and, when needed, imaging. If you have severe deformity after injury, numbness or weakness in a limb, high fever with a hot swollen joint, chest pain, shortness of breath, or new bladder or bowel dysfunction with back pain, seek emergency care immediately rather than waiting for an outpatient slot.
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