OBJECTIVES: To describe the standards of the surgical approach, in terms of material use and costs, for ACL injury under the Brazilian private health care system and evaluate epidemiological features on the patients suffering from this injury METHODS: A cross-sectional study using Evidencias-Kantar Health database of administrative claims regarding surgical procedures for ACL lesions. This database comprizes 4 million lives, all covered by 46 different private health insurance companies. All claims involving surgical therapy for ACL lesions throughout the year of 2014 were included. Only high cost materials were considered in cost calculation (low cost materials, surgical team fees, drugs and physical therapy were not included). RESULTS: There were 286 cases identified. Patients mean age was 31.64 years, 75.17% were males. In 84.61% of the cases there were associated meniscal injuries and surgical interventions were indicated for 86.7% of these (91% of the proposed meniscal interventions were meniscectomies). Concomitant chondroplasty was necessary in 76.22% of the cases, 94% of those by using bipolar radiofrequency. Regarding the use of interference screws, 23.77% of those were of the absorbable kind and 76.22% were made of titanium. Additional graft fixation with endobutton repair was needed in 27.6% of all cases. Considering pricing lists for a standard procedure (including shaver systems, guide systems for screws, interference screws), this costs U$1,945 per procedure. The use of absorbable screws increased the costs to U$2,370 and the additional use of bipolar radiofrequency for chondroplasty adds U$967 to the costs per procedure CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation on the surgical materials used for ACL repair in Brazil. Since there is no scientific evidence of functional benefit by using absorbable screws, or either bipolar radiofrequency systems, a standardization of materials for ACL surgical repair would spare significant costs to private healthcare payers in Brazil