Hilo · Big Island
ACL Reconstruction in Hilo
Serving Hilo and East Hawai‘i. A torn ACL doesn't mean the same operation for everyone. We tailor your surgery — modern graft reconstruction, quadriceps-tendon autograft, all-inside technique, or BEAR® repair for eligible patients — to your anatomy, sport, and goals.
75 Pu‘uhonu Place, Suite 204
- Quadriceps-tendon autograft & all-inside options
- BEAR® ACL repair for eligible patients
- Individualized graft selection
- Structured return-to-sport rehab
Written and medically reviewed by Paul Norio Morton, MD, FAAOS, FAAHKS · Board-certified orthopedic surgeon · Last reviewedJuly 2026How It Works
A torn ACL doesn't mean the same operation for everyone
Dr. Morton tailors the procedure — graft reconstruction or, for eligible patients, BEAR® repair — to your anatomy, sport, and goals.
Diagnosis & planning
An exam and MRI confirm the tear. Dr. Morton reviews graft options — quadriceps-tendon, hamstring, or patellar-tendon — or BEAR® repair, matched to your sport and anatomy.
Arthroscopic & outpatient
Surgery is done through small incisions with a camera, and most patients go home the same day. Minimally invasive, with the whole knee assessed at the same time.
Restore or reconstruct
Reconstruction replaces the torn ACL with a graft. For eligible patients, BEAR® repair uses a collagen implant to help your own ligament heal rather than replacing it.
Criteria-based rehab
Return to sport is guided by strength and stability testing — not just the calendar — with our in-house PB&J Physical Therapy team.
Where Your Care Happens
Local clinic, expert surgery
Surgery is performed at Hilo Community Surgery Center — an outpatient surgery center on the Big Island — so you can have expert arthroscopic ACL surgery without flying to Oahu.
CT-based robotic planning
Outpatient Surgery Center
Why surgery at an outpatient center on the Big Island
For eligible patients, Hilo Community Surgery Center offers real advantages over a large hospital — and keeps your care close to home.
Lower cost
Outpatient surgery is typically less expensive than the same procedure in a hospital.
High quality & safety
A focused, efficient setting built around orthopedic surgery for healthy candidates.
Surgeon-led
Dr. Morton directly manages the team, environment, and technology.
Close to home
Stay on the Big Island for surgery and recovery instead of flying to Oahu.
Eligibility for outpatient surgery depends on your health and procedure. Not everyone is a candidate.
Is It Right For You?
Who is a candidate for ACL surgery
Not every ACL tear needs surgery — but for active people, athletes, and knees that give way, reconstruction or repair restores stability. An exam and MRI confirm the tear, and Dr. Morton reviews whether surgery, and which technique, fits your goals.
Because we offer the full range of options, the recommendation is honest and tailored to you. Not everyone is a candidate.
You may be a candidate if
- Your knee gives way or feels unstable
- An MRI confirms a full ACL tear
- You want to return to pivoting sports or an active life
- You've done prehab or are ready to commit to rehab
What To Expect
From tear to return-to-sport, close to home
Big Island patients can keep their surgery and rehab on-island. Timelines are general and vary by patient, injury, and rehab.
Before surgery
An exam and MRI confirm the tear. “Prehab” to calm swelling and restore motion before surgery is associated with better recovery.
Day of surgery
Arthroscopic and outpatient at Hilo Community Surgery Center — most patients go home the same day with a plan for crutches and a brace.
Recovery & return to sport
Rehab with our in-house PB&J Physical Therapy team is criteria-based; return to pivoting sport typically takes several months and is guided by testing, not just time.
ACL Surgery by the Numbers
Published outcomes for modern ACL reconstruction and repair.
2-Minute Check
Am I a candidate for ACL reconstruction or repair?
Answer a few quick questions. This is educational and is not a diagnosis — only an evaluation can tell for sure.
Did your knee injury happen during sport or a twisting movement?
Does your knee feel unstable or 'give way'?
Has an MRI or provider suggested an ACL tear?
You may be a strong candidate.
Your answers suggest ACL reconstruction or repair could be a good fit. The next step is a simple evaluation, where we'll confirm with an exam and imaging and review every option with you — surgical and non-surgical.
This tool is educational and not a diagnosis. Not everyone is a candidate; only a clinical evaluation can determine what's right for you.
You might be a candidate — let's talk.
Some of your answers point toward ACL reconstruction or repair, but the right path depends on the details. A short evaluation will give you a clear, honest answer and a plan.
This tool is educational and not a diagnosis. Not everyone is a candidate; only a clinical evaluation can determine what's right for you.
Let's take a closer look.
Your answers don't point clearly to ACL reconstruction or repair yet — but that doesn't mean we can't help. We'll evaluate what's going on and point you to the care that fits, often starting with non-surgical options.
This tool is educational and not a diagnosis. Not everyone is a candidate; only a clinical evaluation can determine what's right for you.
Answer all 3 questions to see your result.
Evidence & Research
What the evidence says about ACL surgery
A torn ACL doesn't mean the same operation for everyone. Here is a plain-language summary of what peer-reviewed sports-medicine research reports about reconstruction, graft choice, and newer repair — with honest context.
Most people return to activity, but return to sport takes time. In a large meta-analysis, about 81% of patients returned to some sport and about 55% returned to competitive sport after ACL reconstruction.1
Graft choice is individualized. Quadriceps-tendon, hamstring, and patellar-tendon autografts produce comparable stability, and no single graft is best for every patient.2
For eligible patients, the BEAR® technique restores the torn ligament rather than replacing it with a graft. In the BEAR II randomized trial it was non-inferior to reconstruction at two years.3
Younger athletes who return to pivoting sports have a meaningfully higher risk of a second ACL injury — which is why completing rehabilitation and criteria-based return-to-sport testing matters.4
Surgical approach and graft choice are individualized; not everyone is a candidate for repair. Return-to-sport timelines and outcomes vary by patient, injury, and rehabilitation. This page is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice.
References
- Ardern CL, Taylor NF, Feller JA, Webster KE. Fifty-five per cent return to competitive sport following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(21):1543–1552. View source ↗
- Mouarbes D, Menetrey J, Marot V, et al. ACL reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes for quadriceps tendon autograft versus bone–patellar tendon–bone and hamstring-tendon autografts. Am J Sports Med. 2019;47(14):3531–3540. View source ↗
- Murray MM, Fleming BC, Badger GJ, et al. Bridge-enhanced anterior cruciate ligament repair is not inferior to autograft ACL reconstruction at 2 years: results of a prospective randomized clinical trial. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(6):1305–1315. View source ↗
- Wiggins AJ, Grandhi RK, Schneider DK, et al. Risk of secondary injury in younger athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2016;44(7):1861–1876. View source ↗
Written and Medically Reviewed By
Paul Norio Morton, MD
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon (American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery). Fellowship-trained; Hawai‘i's first fellowship-trained robotic hip & knee replacement surgeon.
Last reviewedJuly 2026 · Read Dr. Morton's full bio →
Explore More
ACL Reconstruction across Hawai‘i
Patient Reviews
What patients say
“Dr. Ronnie Otieno did a very personalized consultation for my chronic knee pain, recommending PRP to aid my recovery since I need to remain active. He is detailed, gentle, kind, patient, and precise — and uses an ultrasound machine to target the exact area for treatment.”
— Kalea· Google review
“I was living in pain for a year with a meniscus tear that another doctor wouldn’t fix for me. Dr. Morton is an awesome surgeon, and Carol saved me from waiting another month by getting all my appointments scheduled.”
— Kim H.· Google review
Review excerpts reflect individual patient experiences and may be lightly condensed. Results vary.
ACL Reconstruction in Hilo starts with an evaluation
Request an appointment on Klara or call (808) 439-6201 — we'll confirm whether this is right for you.