Well with a complete tear - there is NO healing.....I would need to remove some "stuff" from other parts of my leg to make a new ACL or get one from a cadaver.... ewwww!
Although I"m being told I don't really need an ACL to do certain things....know some skiier who don't have one in either leg...
Complete tears do not heal. I have had two ACL's blow out on the same leg , the first time I did not fix it right away, I waited two years and used a brace when I played, big mistake for me. When you don't get fixed, especially if your an active person, you take a huge risk in tearing ANOTHER ligament, like LCL, or the MCL, or even the PCL due to the ACL not being there for support. You could just simply step off a curb wrong and there it goes. I ended up with an overuse injury to my right knee from over-compensation. I did first fix mine with a Gortex ligament, which didn't hold up long... I tore it again. Second time I used the Semitendionisis, works great today.. during the second tear I also tore my Trochlea cart. that injury was far worse than the ACL, it took two years ( 1 full year on crutches, no toe touching) and 4 surgeries to fix and heal... that one cartalige injury, god it sucked...
A cadaver ligament is really the way to go these days, no added injury from tendion harvestation... adds on about a month of healing time. I know several girls that did the cadaver. The rehab is 6 months, you will feel like you could resume your normal in about 3 or 4 months... I resumed professional level of play in 5 with a brace and the MD's and PT's okay. Thats why I mentioned you could still compete! I lifted and did Pilates all thru my injuries, I just had to modify some things. You can do it!!!!!!!
Your knees are crucial to everything you do and yet the weakest part of your body, go figure.