Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash sees ACL injuries at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira. Bring your MRI if you have one, and tell him about your sport and your job. ACL rehabilitation lasts many months, so it helps to plan where you will do physiotherapy near home or work. He tells you which hospital the surgery would be in and what your insurer needs.
What is aCL reconstruction surgery?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a strong band inside the knee. It stops the shin bone sliding forward and helps the knee stay steady when you twist or turn. It is often torn in football, basketball, padel or skiing, when the foot is planted and the knee twists, or after a bad landing. Many people hear a pop and the knee swells within hours. A torn ACL does not heal back together on its own. In ACL reconstruction, the surgeon replaces it with a graft, usually a piece of tendon from your own leg, using keyhole surgery. Not everyone with a torn ACL needs an operation.
Who it can help
- A knee that gives way when you turn, pivot or change direction.
- People who want to return to football, padel, basketball or other twisting sports.
- Jobs that need a stable knee, such as climbing ladders or carrying loads.
- An ACL tear together with a meniscus tear that needs repair.
- A knee that still feels unstable after a full course of physiotherapy.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash performs knee arthroscopy, including ligament reconstruction and meniscus repair, and arthroscopy is one of his stated main interests. He first checks whether the knee is truly unstable and whether other parts, such as the meniscus, are damaged too. Some people do well with physiotherapy alone. If reconstruction is right for you, he explains the graft options, the risks and the long rehabilitation before you decide.
What to expect
Consultation
He examines the knee for looseness, asks about your sport and work, and arranges an MRI to confirm the tear and check the meniscus and cartilage.
Prehab
Before surgery you work with a physiotherapist to settle the swelling and get the knee moving fully. This often makes recovery easier.
The operation
Under a general or spinal anaesthetic, the graft is taken and fixed in place through small cuts. It usually takes one to two hours.
Going home
Many people go home the same day or the next, on crutches, sometimes with a brace.
Rehabilitation and follow-up
Physiotherapy continues for many months. He reviews your progress and decides with you when each step back to sport is reasonable.
Recovery, in general terms
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Crutches for about one to two weeks, sometimes longer if a meniscus was repaired.
- Desk work after about two weeks; driving often after four to six weeks.
- Jogging in a straight line at around three to four months, if strength allows.
- Return to twisting sports typically at nine to twelve months, after strength and balance tests.
Risks to know about
- Infection or a blood clot in the leg, both uncommon.
- Stiffness, or pain at the place the graft was taken from.
- The graft stretching or tearing again, more likely with an early return to sport.
- A patch of numb skin near the cuts.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if you felt a pop in the knee and it swelled quickly, or if the knee keeps giving way. After ACL surgery, call the clinic the same day for a fever, a hot and very swollen knee, or a swollen, painful calf.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Questions patients ask
Does insurance in Dubai cover ACL surgery?
Many Dubai plans cover ACL reconstruction when it is medically needed, usually with pre-approval and an MRI report. Plans differ on physiotherapy sessions, so ask your insurer how many are included.
Can I live with a torn ACL without surgery?
Some people can, especially if they do not play twisting sports and their knee feels stable after physiotherapy. If the knee keeps giving way, each episode risks damage to the meniscus and cartilage, and reconstruction is usually discussed.
How soon should the operation be done after the injury?
There is rarely a rush. Most surgeons wait until the swelling has settled and the knee bends and straightens well. A locked knee from a meniscus tear is different and may need earlier surgery.
When can I play football again?
Usually not before nine months, and only once your strength, balance and hopping tests are close to the other leg. Returning earlier raises the chance of tearing the graft.
Book an appointment
The clinic confirms every booking by phone or WhatsApp.