Various methods are available to surgeons to repair ruptured ligaments.

The most common technique in the UK is to reconstruct the ligament using a piece of suitable tissue taken from another part of the patient – called an autograft.  For example, the ligament that goes between the knee cap and upper shin, or ham string tendons from the inside of the patient’s thigh can be used. 

Allograft can also be used.  These are donor tissues from another patient, which have exactly the same function as autograft tissues.

Synthetics are specially manufactured artificial grafts which come in different shapes and sizes according to patient size or sporting ability, and require no tissue from the patient or a donor.  These artificial ligaments are as strong, and in some cases stronger, than the original ones.