ACL Reconstruction in Bethlehem & the Lehigh Valley
A torn ACL is one of the most consequential injuries an athlete can face — and one of the most treatable in expert hands. Dr. Michael Hendel, MD, PhD performs arthroscopic ACL reconstruction for athletes and active adults across Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, Kutztown, and the greater Lehigh Valley, using the techniques he trained in during his residency and sports medicine fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery, the nation’s #1 ranked orthopedic hospital.
Dr. Hendel’s ACL expertise runs deeper than the operating room: he co-authored two chapters in the international ISAKOS ACL Surgery textbook — on ACL injury prevention and on treating ACL tears in the multi-ligament injured knee — and he evaluates ACL injuries every season as football team physician for Liberty and Freedom High Schools (PIAA District XI).
Graft Options — Matched to Your Sport and Goals
- Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft — the gold standard for competitive and contact athletes
- Hamstring tendon autograft — less anterior knee pain, well suited to many recreational athletes
- Quadriceps tendon autograft — excellent strength profile, increasingly popular
- Primary ACL repair with internal brace — ligament preservation for select acute, proximal tears (see below)
- Revision ACL reconstruction — for failed prior surgery, including complex staged cases
ACL Repair — Preserving Your Native Ligament
For carefully selected acute tears in which the ligament pulls off the femur with healthy tissue (proximal avulsion patterns), Dr. Hendel offers arthroscopic primary ACL repair with internal brace augmentation — reattaching and preserving your own ACL rather than replacing it with a graft. This ligament-preservation approach was pioneered at Hospital for Special Surgery by Dr. Gregory DiFelice during the years Dr. Hendel trained there.
When the tear pattern qualifies, repair means no graft harvest, preservation of the ligament’s natural nerve endings that contribute to knee position sense, and often a gentler early recovery. When it does not qualify — which MRI review determines — reconstruction remains the proven gold standard, and Dr. Hendel will tell you honestly which category your knee falls into.
About half of ACL tears come with meniscus or cartilage damage. Dr. Hendel addresses these in the same surgery whenever possible — repairing rather than removing the meniscus when the tear pattern allows, which protects the knee for decades to come.
“Dr. Hendel did a wonderful job saving my ACL and repairing my menisci. His expertise will have me returning to all of my sports much quicker than I expected — skiing, tennis, and mountain biking.”
Press Ganey verified patient surveyFrequently Asked Questions
How long is recovery after ACL reconstruction?
Most athletes walk without crutches within 4-6 weeks, jog at 3-4 months, begin sport-specific training at 5-6 months, and return to competition between 8 and 12 months, once strength and hop testing show greater than 90% symmetry with the healthy leg. Timelines vary with graft choice and sport demands.
Do I need surgery for a torn ACL?
Not always. Lower-demand patients willing to avoid pivoting sports can do well with rehabilitation and bracing. Surgery is usually recommended for athletes returning to cutting or contact sports, for knees that give way during daily life, and for combined injuries involving the meniscus. Dr. Hendel reviews your MRI with you and lays out both paths honestly.
Which ACL graft is best?
There is no single best graft — there is a best graft for you. BTB autograft remains the benchmark for competitive athletes; hamstring and quadriceps grafts are excellent for many others. Dr. Hendel matches graft selection to your age, sport, anatomy, and goals, and explains the trade-offs of each.