Editorial Commentary: Want to Try Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair? Maximize Your Chances of Success by Choosing the Right Anterior Cruciate Ligaments to Repair Rather Than Reconstruct.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair represents an attractive choice for certain patients because of a higher rate of return to sport as well as a potentially faster recovery time. Recent evidence has shown that younger age and synovial sheath integrity <50% are associated with increased risk of failure after arthroscopic ACL repair. This makes sense because the synovial sheath is responsible for providing blood supply and proprioceptive nerve endings to the ACL, as well as protection of the ligament from the degradative environment of synovial fluid. As with any procedure, indications are refined over time based on new evidence. Although I believe that ACL reconstruction will remain the gold standard for the treatment of ACL tears, I also believe that our rates of success with ACL repair will improve as indications are further refined over time.