At a glance
- What it is: The ligament that stabilises the knee when pivoting, jumping and stopping. It is often torn in football, basketball, skiing or padel.
- When to operate: If the knee gives way, if you want to return to pivoting sports or if there is an associated meniscus tear.
- How: Arthroscopic reconstruction with your own graft. Dr Samitier described and published the Iberian Braid braided hamstring graft technique.
- Where: Surgery at Hospital Universitari El Pilar (Barcelona) and Hospital Universitari Quirónsalud Badalona; clinics at Centre Mèdic Quirónsalud Aribau (Barcelona) and in Badalona.
- Team: Knee Unit · Samitier Sports, led by Dr. Gonzalo Samitier.
Content reviewed by Dr. Gonzalo Samitier, Head of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Department. Last reviewed: November 2026.
In numbers
Dr Gonzalo Samitier performed 108 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions in 2025 and more than 340 since 2023. The Samitier Sports team performs about 1,400 operations and over 50,000 clinic visits a year.
Source: Dr Samitier’s surgical logbooks (Hospital Universitari Quirónsalud Badalona and Hospital Universitari El Pilar), November 2026.
Who will operate on you?
- Dr. Gonzalo Samitier Solís · Head of Department · knee and shoulder surgery
- Dr. Paloma Sevilla Ortega · knee and shoulder
- Dr. Federico Yáñez Siller · arthroscopy and sports surgery
- Dr. Jesús Rodríguez Socorro · shoulder and knee arthroscopy
- Dr. Héctor Corrales López · knee surgery
Have you been told you need surgery, or want a second opinion? Tell us about your case or WhatsApp us on +34 650 58 32 08.
When is surgery needed?
- Instability: the knee gives way in daily life or during sport.
- Athletes who want to return to pivoting, jumping or contact sports.
- Associated meniscus or ligament injuries that should be repaired.
- In less active people without instability, rehabilitation alone may be considered.
How we operate
- Anatomic arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with the patient’s own graft (hamstrings, patellar tendon or quadriceps) depending on the case.
- Iberian Braid technique: braided hamstring graft described by Dr Samitier and Dr Vinagre (Arthroscopy Techniques, 2019).
- Repair of the meniscus and meniscal root in the same operation when they are torn.
- Revision surgery when a previous reconstruction has failed.
Recovery step by step
- First weeks: rehabilitation from the first days, with crutches for 2-4 weeks.
- 3-4 months: light straight-line running.
- 6 months: sport-specific training.
- 9-12 months: return to pivoting and contact sports after passing functional tests.
Timelines are approximate: your surgeon sets them for each case.
Surgical videos by Dr. Samitier
From the Samitiersports YouTube channel. They contain surgical images.
Bucket-handle meniscus repair and ACL reconstruction
ACL reconstruction in an adolescent
Frequently asked questions
Can you live without an ACL?
Yes. Many less active people live normally with a good rehabilitation programme. If the knee gives way or you want to play pivoting sports, reconstruction protects the knee and the menisci.
When can I return to sport?
Approximately, running at 3-4 months and pivoting or contact sports between 9 and 12 months, always after passing functional tests.
What is the Iberian Braid technique?
It is a way of preparing the hamstring graft by braiding it for ACL reconstruction. It was described and published by Dr Gonzalo Samitier and Dr Gustavo Vinagre in Arthroscopy Techniques (2019).
Where is the surgery done in Barcelona?
At Hospital Universitari El Pilar (Barcelona) and Hospital Universitari Quirónsalud Badalona. Clinics are held at Centre Mèdic Quirónsalud Aribau and in Badalona.