It's official. Torn ACL. Question for ACL survivors

WhipMeister
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WhipMeister
Edited Date/Time 1/23/2012 2:19pm
Doc confirmed it today. Same guy that rebuilt my left ACL fifteen years ago. Did a great job with that and that leg has been strong as a ox. Today he recommended (gently) the allograft surgery, instead of auto, which is what he did before. (if you know, you know). Seems my more advanced age causes him to recommend fresher replacement parts instead of using my own 50+ YO patella tendon.

I got out of there without questioning one thing. During his explanation, he said the allograft is less painful (because they don't slice out a piece of your patella tendon), but also said, later, that the recovery would be longer (6 months v. 4) than using my own parts. That detail flew over my head until I was driving home. Anyone know why?

I'll see him again in a couple of weeks, so I can ask then. But that seems the opposite of what I would expect. (Plus, I'm not sure how eager I am to have some poor schmuck's parts embedded in my leg. Kind of gives me the heebee-geebees.)
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Larry
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Larry 5/5/2009 4:20am
5/5/2009 4:20am
WhipMeister wrote:
Doc confirmed it today. Same guy that rebuilt my left ACL fifteen years ago. Did a great job with that and that leg has been strong...
Doc confirmed it today. Same guy that rebuilt my left ACL fifteen years ago. Did a great job with that and that leg has been strong as a ox. Today he recommended (gently) the allograft surgery, instead of auto, which is what he did before. (if you know, you know). Seems my more advanced age causes him to recommend fresher replacement parts instead of using my own 50+ YO patella tendon.

I got out of there without questioning one thing. During his explanation, he said the allograft is less painful (because they don't slice out a piece of your patella tendon), but also said, later, that the recovery would be longer (6 months v. 4) than using my own parts. That detail flew over my head until I was driving home. Anyone know why?

I'll see him again in a couple of weeks, so I can ask then. But that seems the opposite of what I would expect. (Plus, I'm not sure how eager I am to have some poor schmuck's parts embedded in my leg. Kind of gives me the heebee-geebees.)
could you request parts from someone who ran a 4 min. mile? JK hope whatever you decide results in a quick recovery.
dirthead1
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dirthead1 5/5/2009 9:25am
5/5/2009 9:25am
I would do donor for sure. I regret not having done a donor graft. We call it a "dead man's knee"!
Friday
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Friday 5/5/2009 9:31am
5/5/2009 9:31am
Yeah,Whip that doesn't make sense. I would think with a donor the healing would be faster.I had 6 surgeries and it wasn't till the final 2(each leg) ACL with my own patellar tendon that they got it right. But it takes longer to heal. I've had friends use the hamstring and most either stretched or snapped it. If I had to do it again now at this age I'd use the donor. Good luck. Keep us informed.
dirthead1
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dirthead1 5/5/2009 9:34am
5/5/2009 9:34am
I did the hamstring (tripled up) and have chronic hamstring problems now. The knee sucks too. Strong as before but I have joint pain.

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maicoman
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maicoman 5/5/2009 9:47am
5/5/2009 9:47am
the use your own tendon did not work.go with the donor graft, get the largest size possible (9mm??).
Only catch was to use that large of tendon, they needed a surgery to fix and re size the tunnel that was damaged, then go back in six months later to install the ACL.
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 5/5/2009 9:55am
5/5/2009 9:55am
maicoman wrote:
the use your own tendon did not work.go with the donor graft, get the largest size possible (9mm??). Only catch was to use that large of...
the use your own tendon did not work.go with the donor graft, get the largest size possible (9mm??).
Only catch was to use that large of tendon, they needed a surgery to fix and re size the tunnel that was damaged, then go back in six months later to install the ACL.
Did not work with you? (My left one is great).

I don't know if I get a chance to spec that stuff (like size), but that's good info to talk over with the doc.
cjmx
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cjmx 5/5/2009 10:09am
5/5/2009 10:09am
I had the hamstring graft. Knee is perfect but my hamstring is only about 90%. Supposedly there is less problems with arthritis using the hamstring graft over the patellar and why I chose the hamstring. But if I could do it over again I would choose the donor for sure. As I have said before why create a new injury to fix an existing one.

Best thing my DR did for me was use the calcium screws when attaching the graft. They are absorbed after a few years and I have no pain at all in my knee. Several people I have talked to have pain/issues where their screws attach the graft.

Good luck and I wish you the best in a full recovery.
TJ 755
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TJ 755 5/5/2009 10:22am
5/5/2009 10:22am
I had the donor. They used a piece of Achilles tendon from a cadaver. Highly recommend. The trick is deciding on anchors. I went with a non metallic resin type deals that allow bone mass to integrate into the final anchorage.
maicoman
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maicoman 5/5/2009 11:27am
5/5/2009 11:27am
maicoman wrote:
the use your own tendon did not work.go with the donor graft, get the largest size possible (9mm??). Only catch was to use that large of...
the use your own tendon did not work.go with the donor graft, get the largest size possible (9mm??).
Only catch was to use that large of tendon, they needed a surgery to fix and re size the tunnel that was damaged, then go back in six months later to install the ACL.
WhipMeister wrote:
Did not work with you? (My left one is great). I don't know if I get a chance to spec that stuff (like size), but that's...
Did not work with you? (My left one is great).

I don't know if I get a chance to spec that stuff (like size), but that's good info to talk over with the doc.
Whip, this repair was done on my wife (damaged while riding) . She's had three surgeries and I've had two knee "clean-ups" and the ACL in my left knee is gone.

Her original ACL repair was done using her Hamstring which we learned her graft was way to small and should have gone with the larger cadaver, but at the time there was a scare with Hepatitis.

You should ask if going with 9mm or larger if you will need to do the two surgeries and if your tunnel is ok.


WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 5/5/2009 11:43am
5/5/2009 11:43am
cjmx wrote:
I had the hamstring graft. Knee is perfect but my hamstring is only about 90%. Supposedly there is less problems with arthritis using the hamstring graft...
I had the hamstring graft. Knee is perfect but my hamstring is only about 90%. Supposedly there is less problems with arthritis using the hamstring graft over the patellar and why I chose the hamstring. But if I could do it over again I would choose the donor for sure. As I have said before why create a new injury to fix an existing one.

Best thing my DR did for me was use the calcium screws when attaching the graft. They are absorbed after a few years and I have no pain at all in my knee. Several people I have talked to have pain/issues where their screws attach the graft.

Good luck and I wish you the best in a full recovery.
Actually, it's funny you mention it. I was one of the first to receive the absorbable (PLLD?) screws back in 95 after the FDA approved them. Yesterday I'm back at the same doc for the other knee and I reminded him about that. They had taken pics of both knees. He looks it over then yells out in the hall for his interns and other staff to come in to 'see something'. 'I'm like 'WTF?'. So he proceeds to do a show and tell with his whole office about a long term follow-up for the PLLD screws. They're all in there poking, bending, prodding my legs and oooing and ahhing over the x-rays. It was a little weird.

I agree, those screws are the way to go.
jay_547
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jay_547 5/5/2009 11:55am
5/5/2009 11:55am
6 or 4 month recoveries? i had the hamstring acl replacement done in october and my doc said to wait at least a year before riding again. he later said that i could start riding about the 4th of july.
dirthead1
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dirthead1 5/5/2009 12:09pm
5/5/2009 12:09pm
jay_547 wrote:
6 or 4 month recoveries? i had the hamstring acl replacement done in october and my doc said to wait at least a year before riding...
6 or 4 month recoveries? i had the hamstring acl replacement done in october and my doc said to wait at least a year before riding again. he later said that i could start riding about the 4th of july.
Do whatever your knee tells you. I started back too early at 3 months and my knee just wasn't ready. I knew it was weak after 30 seconds on the bike even with knee braces on.

After 9 months I started riding again with a brace on both knees and after 14 months surfing again with no braces. My back knee gets real loaded up surfing and it just felt real weak.

Retrospectively, I wish I had spent a bunch more time on the bicycle post-op for rehab and also thousands of more squats.

My knee and my hamstring sucks. But then again the knee was completely destroyed. ACL MCL, and meniscus. only spared the PCL.
WhipMeister
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WhipMeister 5/5/2009 3:34pm
5/5/2009 3:34pm
jay_547 wrote:
6 or 4 month recoveries? i had the hamstring acl replacement done in october and my doc said to wait at least a year before riding...
6 or 4 month recoveries? i had the hamstring acl replacement done in october and my doc said to wait at least a year before riding again. he later said that i could start riding about the 4th of july.
I was cleared after 4 with my first one. I felt ok riding, and was in really great shape, but probably would not have tried any stick and ball sports. I think more the mental "trust" thing than anything else.
txmxer
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txmxer 5/5/2009 4:21pm
5/5/2009 4:21pm
sorry to hear the results.

Good to have a doc you know and trust. I wouldn't sweat the healing time. May be your age as much as anything. Regardless, you'll be monitored all the way and when it's ready, it's ready.

jmar
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jmar 5/5/2009 7:49pm
5/5/2009 7:49pm
WhipMeister wrote:
Doc confirmed it today. Same guy that rebuilt my left ACL fifteen years ago. Did a great job with that and that leg has been strong...
Doc confirmed it today. Same guy that rebuilt my left ACL fifteen years ago. Did a great job with that and that leg has been strong as a ox. Today he recommended (gently) the allograft surgery, instead of auto, which is what he did before. (if you know, you know). Seems my more advanced age causes him to recommend fresher replacement parts instead of using my own 50+ YO patella tendon.

I got out of there without questioning one thing. During his explanation, he said the allograft is less painful (because they don't slice out a piece of your patella tendon), but also said, later, that the recovery would be longer (6 months v. 4) than using my own parts. That detail flew over my head until I was driving home. Anyone know why?

I'll see him again in a couple of weeks, so I can ask then. But that seems the opposite of what I would expect. (Plus, I'm not sure how eager I am to have some poor schmuck's parts embedded in my leg. Kind of gives me the heebee-geebees.)
My son has had four ACLs done. PM me and I will give you the phone number of a good friend of mine that can help you with some of you're questions. He's worked on a lot of riders including Trey Canard.

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