For patients in South Africa

ACL surgery in Turkey from South Africa: a plain guide

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) holds the thigh bone and shin bone together in the centre of the knee and controls twisting. It usually tears during a sudden change of direction, an awkward landing or a blow to the knee. ACL surgery rebuilds the ligament with a graft. The operation itself is short; the rehabilitation lasts six to nine months, and for South African patients nearly all of it happens at home, so it has to be planned before you travel.

Who needs it

A complete ACL tear does not heal on its own, but some people with low demands on the knee manage well with physiotherapy alone. Surgery is usually considered for:

• Complete ACL ruptures
• A knee that keeps giving way despite physiotherapy
• People who want to return to sports with pivoting and sudden turns
• Tears combined with meniscus or cartilage damage
• Younger and physically active people

Send your MRI scan and report, and a description of how the injury happened. The surgeon reviews them with your history and examines the knee before confirming a plan; some patients are asked to do physiotherapy before the operation.

How it is done

The torn ligament is not stitched back together; it is replaced with a graft, most often from your own hamstring, patellar or quadriceps tendon, and sometimes donor tissue. Under general or spinal anaesthesia, the surgeon works through small incisions with a camera (arthroscopy), drills small tunnels in the thigh and shin bones, and fixes the graft in place. The operation takes one to two hours. More detail is on the ACL surgery treatment page.

How long to stay, and the flight home

Most patients go home the same day or after one night in hospital, with crutches and, if advised, a knee brace. Physiotherapy starts in the first weeks. Blood clots are a known risk after ACL surgery, and a ten-hour flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town adds to it, so the surgeon decides when you are fit to fly. Book a return ticket you can change.

• Ask the surgeon about clot prevention for the flight
• Book an aisle seat, or extra legroom if you can, and ask for airport assistance
• Bring your MRI, operation notes and the physiotherapy plan home with you
• Tell us at the start about any history of clots, smoking or hormone medication

Rehabilitation at home

• First two to four weeks: reducing swelling, regaining movement, partial weight-bearing on crutches, starting physiotherapy
• One to three months: strengthening the thigh muscles, balance and coordination, gradually more activity
• Three to nine months: sport-specific training, jumping and agility work, then a return-to-sport assessment

Full recovery takes six to nine months. Book a physiotherapist near you before you travel and share the surgeon’s protocol with them. Follow-up with the surgical team continues by message and video call; Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa. Medical complications arising from the treatment, and any revision that becomes clinically necessary as a result, are covered for one year from the date of treatment by our treatment guarantee. Any such treatment is carried out in İzmir by the treating team; flights and accommodation remain your own responsibility.

Risks

Possible complications include infection, blood clots, knee stiffness, failure or re-tear of the graft and continuing instability. Following the rehabilitation plan reduces these risks. If the meniscus is also torn, see our meniscus surgery guide. Other sports injuries are covered in our sports injuries guide and the wider orthopaedic surgery guide for South African patients.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed your scans and history, we will not promise a result, and we will not operate if your health makes it unsafe. A long journey is not a reason to operate when conservative treatment has not been tried, or to do more in one operation than the surgeon judges safe.

Frequently asked questions

Does every ACL tear need surgery?

No. Some tears can be managed with physiotherapy, depending on how stable the knee is and how active you are. The surgeon decides after reviewing your MRI and examining the knee.

How long will I be in hospital after ACL surgery?

Most patients go home the same day or after one night, walking with crutches and, if advised, a knee brace.

How long after ACL surgery can I fly home to South Africa?

The surgeon decides. Blood clots are a known risk after ACL surgery and a ten-hour flight adds to it, so book a return ticket you can change and ask about clot prevention.

When can I return to sport after ACL surgery?

Usually after six to nine months, once rehabilitation is complete and you have passed a return-to-sport assessment.

Will my medical aid cover ACL surgery in Turkey?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover planned treatment abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes it. Ask both specifically before you book.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.