ACL Injuries and Reconstruction: A Journey Back to Strength with Dr. Elliott Cole 

Imagine being a 14-year-old on the basketball court when everything changes in a split second. You make a sharp turn, feel a painful pop in your knee, and suddenly, you can’t keep going. That’s precisely what happened to Dr. Elliott Cole, an orthopedic surgeon at ROC, who now helps athletes facing the same challenges he once did. 

“I tore my ACL playing basketball when I was 14,” Dr. Cole recalls. “It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I didn’t just feel pain—I felt the fear of uncertainty. Would I be able to play again? Would this injury affect my future?” These are the same questions many of his patients ask when they face an ACL injury, and Dr. Cole knows precisely how they feel. 

The First Steps: Diagnosing an ACL Injury 

ACL injuries are surprisingly common, especially in high-impact sports like basketball, soccer, and football. They often happen without contact—just as Dr. Cole experienced—when an athlete suddenly stops, pivots, or lands awkwardly. “You feel it immediately—a sharp pain, followed by swelling and a sense that something is wrong,” says Dr. Cole. 

After his injury, Dr. Cole faced the same diagnostic process he now guides his patients through. At ROC Orthopedic, Dr. Cole and his team start with a physical exam to assess the knee’s stability and perform tests like the Lachman test, which checks the integrity of the ACL. “If there’s suspicion of a tear,” Dr. Cole explains, “we confirm it with imaging, typically an MRI.” ROC offers onsite imaging, allowing for quick diagnosis and faster treatment planning. 

The Decision: Surgery or Non-Surgical Treatment? 

At 14, Dr. Cole was determined to return to the court, and his doctors recommended ACL reconstruction surgery. Today, he provides that same guidance to his patients. “You don’t always have to have surgery,” he notes. “But for young athletes who want to return to their previous activity level, ACL reconstruction is often the best option.” 

Dr. Cole explains that deciding to have surgery depends on the patient’s lifestyle and goals. If the patient is an athlete who wants to play competitively again, surgery is typically recommended. During the procedure, a new ACL is created using tissue grafts—often from the patient’s hamstring, quadriceps tendon, or patellar tendon. “For most young patients, we use their tissue to make the new ACL,” Dr. Cole says. “Each case is different, and we discuss all the options with the patient.” 

The Long Road to Recovery 

As a teenager, Dr. Cole underwent surgery and then embarked on the long road to recovery. It wasn’t easy. “It takes about a year to recover from an ACL reconstruction fully,” Dr. Cole explains. “It’s not just about the surgery—it’s the months of sports medicine, the follow-up appointments, and the mental challenge of trusting your knee again.” 

For Dr. Cole, the process was both physical and emotional. “I remember going through the same fears my patients go through now: ‘Will I be the same? Will I ever be able to play again?’” Thanks to his dedication to sports medicine and a strong support system, Dr. Cole recovered and returned to playing basketball at the collegiate level. “It was a long journey, but I made it back to the game I love,” he says. 

This personal experience fuels Dr. Cole’s passion for helping his patients. “I’ve been in their shoes,” he explains. “I understand the ups and downs of recovery, and I’m there to support them through every step.” 

The Cutting-Edge Techniques that Make a Difference 

At ROC, Dr. Cole uses the latest advancements in ACL reconstruction to help his patients achieve the best possible outcomes. One such technique is lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET), a procedure that can be performed alongside ACL reconstruction to reduce the risk of future injury. “It’s not for everyone,” Dr. Cole notes, “but for certain patients, LET can help lower the risk of ACL failure down the road.” 

Dr. Cole is always looking for ways to improve patient outcomes, whether through cutting-edge surgical techniques or innovative rehabilitation protocols like blood flow restriction therapy, which can accelerate healing and restore strength. 

Preventing Future ACL Injuries 

After having suffered an ACL injury himself, Dr. Cole is incredibly passionate about injury prevention. He knows that once someone has torn their ACL, they are at a higher risk of re-injury. “One of the biggest factors in preventing ACL injuries is strength and conditioning,” Dr. Cole advises. “A lot of injuries happen when athletes are fatigued and their technique starts to break down.” 

He encourages all his patients to focus on proper conditioning during recovery and after they return to sports. “If you’ve had an ACL injury, it’s critical to keep working on both legs, not just the injured one, to maintain balance and prevent future injuries.” 

A Journey Shared: The Importance of Patient Care 

For Dr. Cole, the most rewarding part of his job is helping patients get back to the activities they love. He shares a story from his days as a medical resident, treating young athletes at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “I remember one athlete devastated by an ACL injury,” Dr. Cole recalls. “We performed the surgery, and over the next year, I watched him go through rehab, get stronger, and eventually return to his sport stronger than before.” 

It’s a journey Dr. Cole has lived, and he knows firsthand how challenging—but also how rewarding—the recovery process can be. “ACL reconstruction is not just about fixing the knee,” he says. “It’s about helping someone regain their confidence, rebuild their strength, and get back to doing what they love.” 

Road to Resilience 

An ACL injury can feel like a significant setback, but Dr. Cole’s journey shows that it’s possible to come back even stronger. At ROC, Dr. Cole and his team guide patients through each step of the journey—from diagnosis to recovery and everything in between. 

“I’ve been there,” Dr. Cole shares. “I know it’s tough, but with the right care and commitment, you can emerge stronger than ever.”