And yet another complete ACL tear

[Lost Boy Knee]

Hello everyone. I thought I would finally jump in and introduce myself. I've been lurking since I mangled up my knee bone at the end of my very first ski season here in Denver. I did a complete ACL tear, 75% MCL tear and had some significant bone bruising. MRI shows meniscus is in good shape thank god.

I have surgery in 4 weeks. I haven't decided on which graft yet, but I'm reluctantly leaning toward Allograft. My surgeon at Steadman Hawkins says he does them all and will do whatever I want. But he is stearing me away from a Patella graft because I have some wearing in my trochlear groove (both knees).

I have been reading your posts here almost daily and you guys are so informative and inspirational that I'm feeling much more optimistic now. I am pretty fearful of the surgery itself, but anxious to let the real healing begin. I have stuff I want to do.

[montanaskier]

good luck. I had a double bundle as have a couple others on the board and several that I know in town. My ACL is bomber. Don't fear the surgery. Fear the first week of recovery and the subsequent months of rehab. Whatever you decide you'll be fine.

[Infidien]

The surgery's the easy part. In my memory, I was only at the surgery center for about 15 minutes; everybody was really nice and they send you home with some cool toys. Like going to the dentist when you were a kid.

Thanks for not asking about graft choice. If you've been lurking here, you know what everyone thinks. And I'd rather have another reconstruction than another debate on the subject.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[drmark]

Whatever you decide you'll be fine.[/QUOTE]


How can be so sure of the future? I most certainly am not.


This is why all this backslapping and hand holding, will offer only a temporary emotional shoulder to cry on, really isn't helpful in the long run.

While luck is still more important than knowledge, there isn't enough luck to go around for everyone.

[montanaskier]

^^^ Dude it is a ski board. Full of skiers except for one douch Dr. Most here are looking for support. There are countless threads about what everyone thinks about graft choice and all the things that come with an ACL repair. I'm sure you are a great Doc and I'm sure you have a family that loves you, but I for one wish you would catch on fire.

GTFO!

[Lost Boy Knee]

I am doing my best to educate myself, rebuild my strength and prepare myself for the inevitable. Surgery and a long re-hab. But it will be worth it because I said before, I have stuff I want to do.

I have done an exhausting amount of research and will decide on my graft choice using logic, the reccomendation of my surgeon and of course a little emotion. I am a girl after all. Don't let my screen name fool you. Lost boy is the run I injured my knee on. Stupid, stupid fall. How could I do so much damage on a green run??? Sheesh!

I do wish there was one more graft option that just happened to be perfect for me. Unfortunately, I have to choose from the 3 we all know and none are just right for me. That's why I'm still on the fence.

A little history... 48 y/o female, active, in pretty good shape, ideal weight. This is my first real season skiing since I relocated to Denver in October. I managed to get in 35 days before I blew out my knee. I am by no means a great skiier but I had a lot of break throughs and absolutely love skiing. I WILL ski again.

Keep the posts coming. I love hearing your thoughts.

[Lost Boy Knee]

montanaskier, you are too friggn' funny. I love reading your posts. Crack me up.

Dr. Mark.
???????? WTH

[drmark]

Terrible things tend to happen to people who wish the same on others.
I have to take a vacation from you people.

[montanaskier]

my job is done here.

[SkiBrain]

Been absent from the board for a while and looks things are still same old, same old.

Lost Boy, you've got the right approach and perspective. Good luck with the surgery and remember to keep staying positive in the hard several weeks after.

[FredsTrees]

Hello everyone. I thought I would finally jump in and introduce myself. I've been lurking since I mangled up my knee bone at the end of my very first ski season here in Denver. I did a complete ACL tear, 75% MCL tear and had some significant bone bruising. MRI shows meniscus is in good shape thank god.

I have surgery in 4 weeks. I haven't decided on which graft yet, but I'm reluctantly leaning toward Allograft. My surgeon at Steadman Hawkins says he does them all and will do whatever I want. But he is stearing me away from a Patella graft because I have some wearing in my trochlear groove (both knees).

I have been reading your posts here almost daily and you guys are so informative and inspirational that I'm feeling much more optimistic now. I am pretty fearful of the surgery itself, but anxious to let the real healing begin. I have stuff I want to do.

I have to say the surgery is itself the easy part. What you control is the choice of doctor, what is done, and your rehab. I am someone who tried to own it. I suggest the same.

[FredsTrees]

A couple more things for you. I had one of my best friends get a Allograft. The guy is a pure hucker. 145 lbs 5'6" tele and downhiller biker who lives in vermont. He is 2 years later and doing great. I chose the patella, and i am doing great.

[Lost Boy Knee]

That's good to hear about your friend FredsTrees. I have a feeling an Allograft is what I'll end up with since my Patellas are both problematic and I also have hamstring issues. I had a 75% tear of my other ACL 3 years ago so I have MRI's of both knees. They both show a lot of wear. I like to do stuff, what can I say.

My aprehension about an Allograft is mostly about the timing rather than the other obvious risks. If they are indeed their weekest at 24-26 weeks, that's right at the beginning of next ski season for me. My surgeon says I will be ready for sports at 6 months which mystifies me. It goes against everything I have read.

I already have my Epic pass for next year. We'll have to see which wins out. My extreme sense of practicality or my desire to feel the thrill of sliding down the side of a mountain again.

Thanks for posting.

[Lost Boy Knee]

Correction. I had a 75% tear of my other MCL 3 years ago. Not ACL.

[Infidien]

Curious where you heard that allos are weakest 24 - 26 weeks; my Dr. sez weakest at 8 - 12 weeks. He also told me I could resume most athletic activities at 6 months. My surgery was 4/21 and I'm planning to ski bc soon as the snow flies. I'll be more careful on the piste, may wait a year to get back into gates.

[Lost Boy Knee]

I read it in a book called Current Concepts in ACL Reconstruction By Freddie Fu, Steven Cohen. I tried to copy that page for you but was unable. I can point you to it in a preview in Google Books. The URL is long so you'll have to cut and paste. It's on page 171.

http://books.google.com/books?id=WpciU74pRWAC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=when+is+acl+allograft+weakest&source=bl&ots=YIOjC4Jd2Q&sig=PLyE6Ckn7_JjHq2P-uH8Zm_l80Q&hl=en&ei=g4EySriBLo7GM4PllJ4K&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#PPA172,M1

Interesting reading.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

I had my first ACL done 12 yrs ago by Sterrett at Steadman-Hawkins. I went with a patellar tendon graft, which I won't do again. All the same, the ACL healed well and is still strong 12 yrs later! I know some others don't feel the same, but I liked the Steadman-Hawkins clinic. They treated me well!

[FredsTrees]

That's good to hear about your friend FredsTrees. I have a feeling an Allograft is what I'll end up with since my Patellas are both problematic and I also have hamstring issues. I had a 75% tear of my other ACL 3 years ago so I have MRI's of both knees. They both show a lot of wear. I like to do stuff, what can I say.

My aprehension about an Allograft is mostly about the timing rather than the other obvious risks. If they are indeed their weekest at 24-26 weeks, that's right at the beginning of next ski season for me. My surgeon says I will be ready for sports at 6 months which mystifies me. It goes against everything I have read.

I already have my Epic pass for next year. We'll have to see which wins out. My extreme sense of practicality or my desire to feel the thrill of sliding down the side of a mountain again.

Thanks for posting.

I have to say that I agree there is some discrepancy, but i suggest that the latest research is better. You really should take a look at this site;

www.bachmd.com

And read this. http://www.bachmd.com/Articles/ACL%20Recon%20with%20Allograft%20-%202%20year%20followup.pdf

[FredsTrees]

I have to say that I agree there is some discrepancy, but i suggest that the latest research is better. You really should take a look at this site;

www.bachmd.com

And read this. http://www.bachmd.com/Articles/ACL%20Recon%20with%20Allograft%20-%202%20year%20followup.pdf
This study has a mean age of 41.

[Lost Boy Knee]

That's pretty reasuring FredsTrees. Thanks for the links. I feel like for me, it's the lesser of 3 evils, but the more studies like this I can find, the better I feel about my surgery.

I don't want someone to tell me I have to have an allograft because I'm old. Frankly, I don't feel old yet and I plan on skiing again as well as a whole list of other things where a pair of good knees will come in handy. Like in line skating, road biking, river rafting, kayaking, hiking... the list goes on.

I really appreaciate all the posts. Everyone here is so great. When you've gotten youself in a mess like this, it really helps to find others having the same experience.

[drmark]

I have discussed this with Bernie many times.

He uses auto patella tendon in young active people, and alllografts in those less active over forty.

He recongnizes the difference in the two populations.

[FredsTrees]

I have discussed this with Bernie many times.

He uses auto patella tendon in young active people, and alllografts in those less active over forty.

He recongnizes the difference in the two populations.

Thanks for the confirmation dr. Mark !

[Lost Boy Knee]

What about active people OVER 40? Where do we fit in? I am 48, but consider myself to be very active. I don't want to rupture an allograft skiing because it was assumed that I would sit on the sofa for the next 30 years.