ACL Reconstruction — with Meniscus Repair

University of Colorado Anschutz (CU) · Dr. Eric McCarty MD

Weight-Bearing

PWB wks 0-3; FWB without limp from wk 3; root repair: NWB x 4 wks, PWB wks 4-6, FWB at 6 wks

Key Restrictions

Brace unlockable to 90 deg, worn at night; posterior horn meniscus ROM restrictions (90 deg limit wks 2-3, 90/110 at wk 5, 110/120 at wk 6); brace D/C ~wks 5-6 once quad control restored and crutches D/C; no running until wk 12; plyometrics at wk 13 per MD; root repair modification with more conservative WB and ROM

Timeline & Phases

Phase 1 (wk 1, PWB brace locked ext, ROM 0-90, quad sets/SLR); Phase 2 (wks 2-4, progress to FWB per MD, ROM 0-100); Phase 3 (wks 4-6, FWB, aggressive quad, ROM to full, brace D/C ~wks 5-6); Phase 4 (wks 7-16, walking from wk 7, jogging assessment wks 9-10 on treadmill/AlterG/pool, linear running wk 12, plyometrics wk 13 per MD, sport-specific non-contact wk 15, full return wks 16-20 per MD)

Notes

.edu site; Dr. Eric McCarty MD; CU Boulder/Englewood; file dated 2024 but document reads Updated February 2023; return to sport goal 5-6 months; includes root repair sub-protocol; week-by-week detail wks 1-15; posterior horn meniscus ROM staged restrictions noted; jogging on AlterG/pool/treadmill at wks 9-10

Surgeon / Author

Dr. Eric McCarty MD

Published

February 2023