The breadth of knowledge on this board amazes me, so here goes. I just found out I have a torn ACL. YIKES! I actually injured it 5 years ago playing soccer (I know, not a sport) with 20 somethings. I was schooling them kids that day. I mean, I felt great, took the ball from this young cat, beat a couple of guys and then, BAMMM a clumsy challenge into my knee and down I go.

My general practitioner told me it was a sprained LCL, and gullible old me, I bought it for 5 years. Finally, it occurred to me that I was hit on the outside of the knee, where ACL injuries usually occur and that my knee was so unstable I could barely jog, and sprinting on the futbol field was not happening.

Anyway, the doctors choices for a proceedure?

1. The old football player procedure. Grab a piece of the patella tendon.
2. Use a piece of the hamstring
3. A tendon from a cadaver.

I should have done this as a poll.

Thanks for your help.

Just get the Vasectomy already and get it over with.

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I just found out I have a torn ACLbroken vagina. YIKES! I actually injured it 5 years ago playing soccer

fixed it for you. Pussy "sport" thats the only thing that could possibly be broken.

Lobotomy if at all possible. Also, don't bother with that Anesthesia stuff. Completely unnecessary and it leads to ED.

So you were playing soccer and hurt your knee? You didnt get hit you slipped on a box of Sunny-D didnt you or an orange slice?

rub some dirt on it and walk it off you fairy

Man are you related to Justin Harrell?

For some reason I'm reminded of an old Peanuts strip where Linus says to Lucy, "Maybe you should have your mouth boarded up."

Won't help your ACL, but at least we wouldn't have to hear you complain about it.

Duct tape.

quote:

Posted by Goalline:
What Kind of Surgery Should I Have?

Laser Eye Surgery



LaserEye2.jpg (59 Kb, 305 downloads) Lazer

Just from reading up on the various procedures the hamstring route seems to be the best one. From what I've read people don't seem to notice any lack of strength in their hamstring after the procedure, and the section they take isn't missed. It's a little tougher to attach because there are no bone ends to use, but there is no threat of future patellar tendonitis which can happen if the patellar tendon is used. Healing time is a little longer for this procedure than the other two.

The patellar tendon procedure is the older technology .. doctors liked to use part of that tendon because it is similar material in size, and has some bone at the end that helps in attachment. What would scare me some about this method is that they actually slice away 1/3rd of the existing patellar tendon, and take away some bone as well. That would seem to me to make the patellar tendon vulnerable, and also open someone up to possible parellar tendonitis on down the line.

The cadavar option would scare me because of the threat of infections. I would probably rule that one out if it was me.

Good luck with your decison .. research it well.

Having tore ACLs in both knees, I can feel your pain- literally! Interesting that you were given choices. I had my procedures performed way back in 1987 and 1991. The differences in the procedure and rehab between those years was amazing. Can't even imagine what's being done now.

The first operation used a tendon from a cadavor. Drilled a few holes in my femur and tibia(?), threaded the piece of dead meat through them and attached it with staples and screws. Rehab was done with free weights and stretching. Doctors filmed this op from inside my knee to use as a learning tool for interns. I was able to keep a copy for myself. Only watched it once though. It's a lil' different when it's your insides you're looking at! But very interesting!

The second op used a chunk of my hamstring with a bone wedge attached to each end. Pockets were drilled in my femur and tibia where a wedge was inserted and attached. Rehab began the same day as the operation and isometrics began shortly after that. Strengthening my leg was done on a resistance machine and computer screens displayed graphs showing my efforts. Pretty cool stuff!

Personally, rehab was the toughest part of the whole process. Getting the range of motion back was a lot of work. Began the rehab with a ROM of 15-20 degrees and you're asked to reach, what was it, 140-145 degrees? Definitely get yourself a stationary bicycle. Very helpful.

Even with the improvement in technology, I'd say the first op (cadavor tendon) went smoother when it came to rehab and getting back to 100%. I tore a medial meniscus cartilidge 2 years ago and when they performed the arthroscopic surgery on that knee the doc stated the rebuilt ACL was quite strong.

Hope this helps a little! Good luck!

P.S.- Reading gbpack's comments about infections, it's ironic I developed an infection from the op using my own hamstring. Definitely a setback for a week during rehab.

You blew it out playing soccer? Apparently you didn't get the memo that in soccer, everyone is a winner. The only cure I've heard of for pussitis is a good a** kicking.

quote:

3. A tendon from a cadaver.

Why cut into another part of your body if you don't have to? They wouldn't use them if it wasn't safe. I believe that Carson Palmer had his knee repaired this way and he plays in the NFL, so you certainly should be able to play soccer against the 5 year olds.

Just be sure the tendon didn't come from a convicted murderer whose evil soul possesses your leg and goes around trying to kick people to death.

quote:

Originally posted by GBFanForLife:

quote:

3. A tendon from a cadaver.

Why cut into another part of your body if you don't have to? They wouldn't use them if it wasn't safe. I believe that Carson Palmer had his knee repaired this way and he plays in the NFL, so you certainly should be able to play soccer against the 5 year olds.

I did a little further reading .. infection occurance is really small with that option, and recovery is usually much quicker, and less painful since they haven't had to mess with your patellar tendon, or hamstring tendons.

quote:

Originally posted by Max:
Just be sure the tendon didn't come from a convicted murderer whose evil soul possesses your leg and goes around trying to kick people to death.

or a Viking fan

Breast reduction surgery would be the way to go.

You could get the same surgery as dilweed, a double lobotomy.

I just got through rehab on mine.

Used the patellar tendon. Form everything Ive been told and read, it is the latest technology. Hamstring is the older procedure. they dont do many cadavor because of a higher failure rate, but its much easier rehab.

My surgeon is/was the team Dr for the Carolina Hurricanes. All he does is Patellar ACL reconstructions.

rehab sucked ass. mostly because your damn quad muscle shuts down, but everyones is a little different. its fine now, no issues except its a little
tight after I run for a long time.

good luck bro

quote:

Originally posted by iowacheese:

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I just found out I have a torn ACLbroken vagina. YIKES! I actually injured it 5 years ago playing soccer

fixed it for you. Pussy "sport" thats the only thing that could possibly be broken.

That's just really, really funny!!

The Artist fka TD wrote:

quote:

You could get the same surgery as dilweed, a double lobotomy.

This implies Dilweed had a brain to begin with.

quote:

Originally posted by GBFanForLife:

quote:

3. A tendon from a cadaver.

Why cut into another part of your body if you don't have to? They wouldn't use them if it wasn't safe. I believe that Carson Palmer had his knee repaired this way and he plays in the NFL, so you certainly should be able to play soccer against the 5 year olds.

I completely agree here. I ruptured my ACL playing basketball back in college, and even though they repaired the torn cartilage and did what they could with the rest of the knee, it's never been the same. If I had it to do over again, I would go this route. No reason to cut into another part of the body when this is an option.

Go to www.or-live.com and watch your selected surgeries...great site!

I read that Harrell had a microdiscetomy procedure done.