ACL Reconstruction Surgery

The patient was a 24-year-old male competitive cricket player from Delhi. He had been playing cricket since childhood and was a regular member of a local club team. During a high-intensity match, while attempting a quick single run, he planted his right foot awkwardly and twisted his knee. He immediately heard and felt a loud 'pop' inside his knee, followed by intense pain and a sudden feeling of instability — as if the knee had given way completely.

Within minutes, significant swelling developed around the joint. The patient was unable to continue playing and required assistance to leave the field. Over the next 24 hours, the swelling increased further, the knee became stiff and painful to bend, and he was unable to bear his full body weight without support.

He initially consulted a local doctor in Delhi who suggested rest, ice, and painkillers. After two weeks with minimal improvement, the patient was referred for an MRI scan. The MRI results alarmed him — he was told he likely needed surgery but was uncertain about who to trust and where to go for treatment that would actually get him back to cricket.

After receiving his MRI report, the patient searched online for an expert opinion on ACL Reconstruction Surgery in Lucknow and found Dr. Kamal Kishor Gupta, Senior Orthopedic Surgeon at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow. He was specifically looking for a doctor who was not just experienced in knee surgery but who had a dedicated background in sports medicine — someone who would understand the pressures of returning to competitive sport, not just walking normally.

Dr. Gupta's profile stood out for several reasons: his FIFA Medical Diploma from Barcelona (the same qualification held by doctors who treat professional football players worldwide), his Fellowship in Arthroscopy & Arthroplasty from Singapore General Hospital, and his MRCS qualification from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. These international qualifications, combined with over 580 five-star Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating, gave the patient confidence.

Most importantly, the patient discovered that Dr. Gupta offers a free MRI review service via WhatsApp — patients from anywhere in India can send their scans and receive a personal clinical assessment within 24 to 48 hours, without any fee or registration.

The patient photographed his MRI films and shared them with Dr. Kamal Kishor Gupta via WhatsApp. Within 36 hours, Dr. Gupta personally reviewed the scans and responded with a clear, detailed explanation — in plain language, not complicated medical terms.

A critical and often overlooked part of ACL surgery is what happens before the operation. Dr. Gupta prescribed a structured 3-week pre-operative physiotherapy programme before scheduling surgery. This approach — called 'prehabilitation' — is well-established in sports medicine but is not followed by all surgeons.

The surgery was performed at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow. Dr. Kamal Kishor Gupta performed the operation using a fully arthroscopic (keyhole) technique. Spinal anaesthesia combined with a femoral and sciatic nerve block was used — avoiding general anaesthesia, reducing nausea, and providing excellent pain control for 12–18 hours post-surgery.

For a 24-year-old competitive athlete, Dr. Gupta selected a hamstring graft (semitendinosus + gracilis tendons) — approximately 8.5mm diameter — before the arthroscopic reconstruction began.

Rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction is just as important as the surgery itself. Dr. Kamal Kishor Gupta designed a personalised, cricket-specific rehabilitation protocol for this patient — structured in four phases over 7 months.

This case demonstrates several important clinical decisions that contributed to the successful outcome. Each reflects Dr. Gupta's training in international sports medicine and his understanding of what young athletes need to return to sport safely.

Dr. Gupta practices at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital — one of North India's most advanced tertiary care hospitals. Patients from Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Agra, and across India regularly travel to Lucknow for treatment.