ACL Surgery.

[fidlerre]

Okay, quick question: Tore my ACL a few weeks ago. Going in for surgery next week.

Have the option of going with the "hamstring graft" or the "cadavar graft" it's my choosing. In high school, which was eons ago I tore my other ACL and they used part of my patella tendon, which they don't really do anymore. So I guess I am asking anyone who has had either the "hamstring graft" or the "cadavar graft" to let me know how their surgery/recovery went.

Only reason being, my doctor suggested to me the hamstring graft but my brother, who has also blown out both of his knees as well, had one hamstring and one cadavar. The cadavar was great, but ever since he has had problems with his hamstring one...and this kid is in great shape, excellent athlete still to this day.

[Treetaliano]

u really want some dead persons parts in you fid?

[fidlerre]

u really want some dead persons parts in you fid?
considering the trouble my brother has had with his hamstring graft...

it's an idea that is worth thinking about.

[Michael K.]

Which did you end up choosing and how has it worked out for you?

I'm supposed to go in to get mine done (finally) in about 3 weeks.

[Fougs]

Just my two cents- you should get a second opinion. The cadaver is a bad idea because of rejection issues, but the patellar graft is still the most common and most successful procedure used.

I had one with good results two years ago and I'm playing twice a week no problems. The recovery is harder since it's more traumatic to the kneecap.

Check out this message board and read some people's experience:

http://www.factotem.org/cgi-bin/kneebbs.pl/

Whatever you choose I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery.

[gusstead]

IMHO, based on the research I've read,

The Patella graft is the gold standard. Approximately 95-98% success (no failure of the graft) when done as an "autograft" (i.e., your own patella tendon). Approximately 95% success when done with a cadaver graft.

All others have somewhat less success rate and, for each type of graft (Achilles, hamstring, patella) success rate is slightly higher with autograft than with allograft (cadaver).

From what I've read, there are virtually no "rejection" issues nor have there ever been any infectious disease (HIV, Hepatitis, etc issues.) However, about three years ago (about 8 months after my own patella allograft) there were 3 or 4 cases of bacterial infection (1 or 2 deaths) possibly from improperly handled cadavers. But none since.

Order of preference: Patella Autograft, Patella Allograft, Hamstring Auto. However, the most important decision is who is your Orthopedic Surgeon. If he or she has done 1,000 Achilles tendon grafts and no Patella grafts, don't choose to be his test subject.

Reason for Autograft: slightly higher success rate. Reason for allograft/cadaver graft: no damage to kneecap that needs to heal, possibly quicker return to strength training and conditioning (however both cases require at least 6 months to return to play), can take a larger graft (normal autograft is 10cm a cadaver can provide a good 14-15cm thick graft which was important to a big 200 lb/90 kg person like me.)

Gus Steadman
The Zen Hotdog - "Make me one with everything."

[astabooty]

i know you guys are just trying to help, but he said the surgery is in one week, that was on apr 9th.

ps: hope it went well.

[fidlerre]

Yep, surgery went well. I had the hamstring graft, and things are progressing well.

I am 4 months in to rehab, looks like the middle of next month I should be playing again.

[smith07]

u really want some dead persons parts in you fid?

this seems as strange as soliciting medical advice on an internet message board

[fidlerre]

this seems as strange as soliciting medical advice on an internet message board
Why would it be strange asking a bunch of soccer players, many of whom have no doubt had ACL Knee Surgery, be a weird thing? I was trying to get a feel for how other people reacted to different types of grafts. Not so odd in my mind, but perhaps yours.

[Tony Dellbird]

What is the ACL? I'm unfamiliar with it seems like an American term though.

[servotron]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/anteriorcruciate.htm

[Tony Dellbird]

Oh now you say it like that and i know what you're on about!

[Michael K.]

Which did you end up choosing and how has it worked out for you?

I'm supposed to go in to get mine done (finally) in about 3 weeks.


Well for that matter, I had the patellar tendon graft done 9 days ago. So far, so good - I don't know if they're shitting me or not (I don't believe they are, can't figure out why they'd want to) but neither the doctor nor the therapists can believe the range of motion I've got in it already - today we measured 112 degrees of flexion (I think) and -1 degrees of extension. I haven't had any real pain at all (I'm just hoarding the Oxys they prescribed me, stopped taking them two days after the op), so thats a plus, too. PT every weekday since, until tomorrow, since I've got to leave for school this weekend. Still a long, long way to go.

[soccerologist]

this is the best site i've found re: graft choice, and every thing else you'd want to see. it has acl injury videos, acl mpgs (or mpegs?), info on acl tears, acl surgery, acl rehab and exercises...basically everthing!

http://drjonhyman.com/archives/knee/acl_reconstruction_torn_acl_about_acl_injury_acl_tear_acl_surgery.php