ACL Reconstruction Cost in the UK (2026)
Private, NHS and Abroad
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Direct answer. ACL reconstruction costs £7,399 to £9,977 if you pay for it yourself at a UK private hospital, from the hospitals' own price pages checked on 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2] [3]. On the NHS it costs nothing, but in August 2026 the median wait for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in England was about 14 weeks (13.8) [6].
Written by Saher Shodhan. Every price on this page was checked against the provider's own page on 31 Oct 2026, unless a row says otherwise. Sources are numbered at the end.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is, in the NHS's words, "a band of tissue inside your knee. It helps your knee move and stay stable" [8]. This guide sets out what the operation to replace it costs if you pay for it in the UK, what the NHS route looks like, and what hospitals abroad publish, each with its source and the date we checked it.
Cost of ACL Reconstruction in the UK
Private ACL surgery costs £7,399 to £9,977 at UK hospitals (Oct 2026), from Practice Plus Group's fixed price to Spire Nottingham's price, both checked on 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2].
| Route | Price | What it usually covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK private, self-pay | £7,399 to £9,977 | From Practice Plus Group's fixed price to Spire Nottingham's price. What each price covers differs: see the table below. | Providers' own price pages, checked 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2] [3] |
| NHS | No charge | 843,419 people were waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in England in August 2026, and 61.1% had waited under 18 weeks | NHS England, published 8 Oct 2026 [5] |
| Poland, private | £2,606 to £3,597 | The middle half of 6 Polish hospitals' own price lists. Some leave out the implant or the hospital stay. | Thera price index, checked 6 Oct 2026 [7] |
| Hungary, private | £1,847 to £2,605 | From 3 Hungarian hospitals' own price lists. What each includes differs. | Thera price index, checked 6 Oct 2026 [7] |
| Latvia, Lithuania | Too few price lists to quote | Our index holds 2 lists for each | Thera price index, checked 6 Oct 2026 [7] |
UK: providers' own price pages, checked 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2] [3]. NHS: latest published figure, August 2026 [5]. Abroad: hospitals' own price lists in the Thera price index, checked 6 Oct 2026 [7].
Comparing options for your own treatment? Ask us, free →
Flights, hotel nights and anything a package leaves out come on top of the prices abroad.
UK self-pay prices by hospital
| Provider | Hospital | Price | What the price covers | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice Plus Group | Its hospitals in England | £7,399 | Fixed price for the operation. The initial consultation is £145 extra. The provider says the price "includes prescriptions, aftercare, equipment used, and any extra complications that may arise". | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Nuffield Health | Nuffield Oxford | £8,190 | Guide price for "Knee Surgery - ACL Repair". Nuffield says it is "an approximation of the cost of treatment only". | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire Edinburgh | from £8,413 | Treatment from £8,199 plus the initial consultation, £214. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire London East, Ilford | from £8,576 | Treatment from £8,328 plus the initial consultation, £248. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire St Anthony's, Cheam | from £8,760 | Treatment from £8,530 plus the initial consultation, £230. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Nuffield Health | Nuffield Woking | £9,185 | Guide price for "Knee Surgery - ACL Repair", treatment only. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire Manchester | from £9,355 | Treatment from £9,102 plus the initial consultation, £253. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire Bushey | from £9,481 | Treatment from £9,227 plus the initial consultation, £254. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Spire Healthcare | Spire Nottingham | from £9,977 | Treatment from £9,727 plus the initial consultation, £250. Aftercare included. | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Circle Health Group | Circle Reading | from £12,300 | "From" price. The consultant's and anaesthetist's fees are set separately, so the final price may differ. Left out of the range above. | 6 Oct 2026 |
Providers' own price pages: Practice Plus Group [1], Spire Healthcare [2] and Nuffield Health [3], checked 31 Oct 2026; Circle Reading, checked 6 Oct 2026 [4].
These are the providers' published "from" and guide prices. Spire calls its figure "the minimum cost of the procedure" [2], and Nuffield says "You will be given a fixed all-inclusive price for treatment following your initial consultation" [3].
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What Changes the Price?
The published prices show where the differences come from:
- Which hospital, and where: Spire lists the same operation from £8,413 in Edinburgh and from £9,977 in Nottingham [2].
- Whether the consultation is included: Spire's price includes the first consultation (£214 to £254 at the hospitals above), while Practice Plus Group charges £145 on top of its £7,399 [1] [2].
- Scans and tests: Practice Plus Group says "There will be a charge for any diagnostic tests that may be required as a result of your initial consultation" [1].
- Physiotherapy: the NHS says "You'll have regular physiotherapy for a few months after the operation" [8]. Spire's aftercare covers physiotherapy visits "up to the number stated in your treatment letter" [2], so ask how many sessions a quote includes.
- Surgeon, implant and your health: Nuffield says its final price "may vary according to Consultant fees, prosthesis or drugs used and any pre-existing medical conditions" [3].
What ACL Surgery Involves
In the NHS's words, "ACL surgery can involve replacing the ACL with a graft. The graft is usually taken from another part of your body, such as the hamstring" [8]. On the stay, it says: "Most people can leave hospital on the same day they have the operation" [8].
On recovery, the NHS says "it can take up to a year to be able to play sport again" [8], and that a return to work "is usually after about 4 to 6 weeks, but will depend on the type of work you do" [8]. There is "a follow-up appointment about 2 to 3 weeks after the operation" [8], which matters if you have the operation far from home.
Is ACL Reconstruction Worth It?
That is a question for you and your surgeon, not for a price guide. The NHS says: "Not all ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries need ACL surgery" [8]. It lists when surgery is usually recommended, including when "physiotherapy and lifestyle changes have not helped", when "you plan to keep doing lots of sport or intense exercise" and when "your knee gives way a lot" [8].
Before surgery, the NHS says a doctor will talk to you about other treatments, which may include "physiotherapy to help strengthen the knee" and "wearing a knee brace during exercise to protect your knee" [8]. On risks, it says "Most people who have ACL surgery have no complications," and also that "You also may need to have more surgery if you tear the graft in your knee" [8].
Can You Get ACL Reconstruction for Free on the NHS?
Yes. NHS treatment is free, but you may wait. In August 2026, 843,419 people were waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in England, and 61.1% had waited under 18 weeks [5]. The median wait for this specialty was about 14 weeks (13.8) [6]. These figures cover all trauma and orthopaedic treatment, not ACL operations alone: NHS England does not publish a separate figure for ACL surgery. This is the latest published figure; NHS England publishes the September 2026 figures on 12 Nov 2026.
If a GP refers you, the NHS says "in most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to" [9].
When this may not be right for you
If your wait on the NHS is short, NHS treatment costs nothing, and you have "the legal right to ask for your appointment to be moved to a different provider if you're likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time specified for your treatment" [9]. A UK private hospital keeps your surgeon, your follow-up appointment and your physiotherapy close to home. Abroad, you travel back on a recently operated knee, and the months of physiotherapy need planning in the UK before you go.
Cost of ACL Reconstruction Abroad
Six Polish hospitals publish a price for ACL reconstruction on their own lists. The middle half of those prices is £2,606 to £3,597, checked on 6 Oct 2026 [7]. Read what each covers: Galen Orthopaedics (15,800 zł, £3,072) says the implants are in the price, and KCM Clinic (€4,630, £3,930) names a bone-tendon-bone graft and titanium screws, while Allmedica (14,000 zł, £2,722) and Orthos (from 9,700 zł, £1,886) leave out the implant, and Ortopedika (from 19,400 zł, £3,772) leaves out implants and the hospital stay (all checked 6 Oct 2026) [7]. In Hungary, 3 hospitals' own price lists put it at £1,847 to £2,605 [7]. For Latvia and Lithuania our index has too few price lists to quote [7].
Our guide to ACL reconstruction costs in Poland goes further, and ACL reconstruction abroad, step by step covers the trip. On flying after surgery, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, an NHS trust, says: "You must not go on a long-haul flight (a flight longer than 4 hours) at least 4 weeks before or after all types of surgery" [11]. The NHS lists "are having, or have had, surgery" and "go on a long journey (more than 4 hours) by plane, car or train" among the things that make a blood clot more likely [12].
The NHS does not take responsibility for private treatment abroad. Its guidance says "the NHS is not liable for negligence or failure of treatment" and that the GHIC and EHIC do not cover going abroad for planned treatment [10].
How to Check a Clinic Before You Book
If you are looking at ACL reconstruction abroad, make these checks yourself before any money changes hands:
- Find the clinic on its country's official register of healthcare providers, under the company name on the quote.
- Get your surgeon's name in writing, look them up where the country has a public register of doctors, and ask how many ACL reconstructions they do each year.
- Get the quote itemised in writing: the graft type, the fixation implants, the nights in hospital, the physiotherapy, and what is not included.
- Ask what happens, and who pays, if you need help with the knee after you are back in the UK.
Our 15 questions to ask a hospital abroad give you the wording.
Clinics we hold, by country
Each has a free summary page: the register entry we found, the Google listings and any published prices. Thera is free for patients. No clinic can pay to change the prices we publish.
Frequently asked questions
How much is private ACL surgery?
Private ACL surgery costs £7,399 to £9,977 at UK hospitals, from Practice Plus Group's fixed price to Spire Nottingham's price, on the hospitals' own pages checked on 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2]. Spire's price includes the first consultation, while Practice Plus Group charges £145 for it on top [1] [2].
How much does ACL surgery cost privately in the UK?
From £7,399 at Practice Plus Group (plus a £145 consultation) to £9,977 at Spire Nottingham, on the hospitals' own pages checked on 31 Oct 2026 [1] [2]. Circle Reading lists a "from" price of £12,300 (checked 6 Oct 2026) [4].
How much is ACL reconstruction in London?
Spire London East in Ilford lists it from £8,576 and Spire St Anthony's in Cheam, south London, from £8,760, both including the first consultation, checked on 31 Oct 2026 [2]. Ask what the price leaves out, such as scans.
Is ACL surgery free on the NHS?
Yes, if the NHS offers it to you. In August 2026, the latest published figure, the median wait for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in England was about 14 weeks (13.8) [6].
How long does it take to recover from ACL surgery?
The NHS says "It may take several months or longer to recover from ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery," and that "it can take up to a year to be able to play sport again" [8]. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will set your own plan.
How much does ACL surgery cost abroad?
Six Polish hospitals' own price lists put the middle half at £2,606 to £3,597, checked on 6 Oct 2026, and some of those leave out the implant [7]. In Hungary, 3 hospitals' own lists put it at £1,847 to £2,605 [7]. Flights and hotel nights come on top.
Sources
- Practice Plus Group, private patient prices: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) £7,399, initial consultation £145. Checked 31 Oct 2026.
- Spire Healthcare, knee ligament surgery, "Cruciate ligament repair (ACL)": Edinburgh (from £8,413), London East (from £8,576), St Anthony's (from £8,760), Manchester (from £9,355), Bushey (from £9,481), Nottingham (from £9,977). Checked 31 Oct 2026.
- Nuffield Health, hospital price lists for Oxford (£8,190) and Woking (£9,185), "Knee Surgery - ACL Repair". Checked 31 Oct 2026.
- Circle Health Group, Circle Reading treatment prices: ACL reconstruction from £12,300, recorded in the Thera UK price benchmarks; not re-checked on 31 Oct 2026. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- NHS England, referral to treatment waiting times, August 2026, statistical press notice, table 1, Trauma and Orthopaedic Service: 843,419 waiting, 61.1% within 18 weeks (excludes 4 trusts that did not send data). Published 8 Oct 2026.
- NHS England, incomplete pathways by commissioner, August 2026, national sheet, Trauma and Orthopaedics median wait 13.8 weeks (an estimate from grouped data). Published 8 Oct 2026.
- Thera Travel, clinic price index: hospitals' own published price lists, converted at the European Central Bank rate of 6 Oct 2026 (€1 = £0.8488, 1 złoty = £0.1945). Poland ACL reconstruction: 6 price lists, middle half £2,606 to £3,597, from Galen Orthopaedics, KCM Clinic, Medicover Hospital, Allmedica, Orthos and Ortopedika. Hungary ACL reconstruction: £1,847 to £2,605, from 3 price lists (Buda Health Center, Liv Duna Medical Center, Medicover Hospital Budapest). Latvia 2 lists and Lithuania 2 lists, too few to quote. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- NHS, ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery: what it is, why it's done, alternatives, recovering and complications (pages last reviewed 17 Jul 2025). Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Your choices in the NHS (page last reviewed 10 May 2023). Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, Going abroad for medical treatment (page last reviewed 13 Oct 2023). Read 31 Oct 2026.
- The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, travel, surgery and DVT. Read 31 Oct 2026.
- NHS, DVT (deep vein thrombosis) (page last reviewed 30 Apr 2026). Read 31 Oct 2026.
Related: ACL reconstruction cost in Poland, ACL reconstruction abroad, knee arthroscopy cost, the clinic price index.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Clinics UK patients look at
The four with the most Google reviews among the orthopaedic clinics we hold. Each has a free page with its records.
Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, ChennaiChennai, India
KIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, BegumpetHyderabad (Begumpet), India
Yashoda Hospitals, SomajigudaHyderabad (Somajiguda, Raj Bhavan Road), India
Yashoda Hospitals, MalakpetHyderabad (Malakpet, Nalgonda X Roads), India
Written by Saher Shodhan
Saher Shodhan is the founder of Thera Travel, which publishes what the official records show about clinics abroad, each fact with the date it was checked, and answers patients' enquiries, free. More about Thera → How we write and check our guides →
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