I’m nervous. I’m restless. And as of last week, I can’t take any form of Asprin. And starting today at 6 a.m., I won’t be able to consume any alcohol. Not a big deal, except for I’m going to an Argentinian steak house for a last supper with my busted knee. Guess I’ll discover how a chilled glass of water compliments a juicy steak.
Until then, I’ll explain my procedure–Right Knee ACL reconstruction and arthroscopy. Basically, my ACL is completely torn, so I need a new one. With tears, the ACL can be patched up, but with complete tears, the ACL needs to be created from a graft.
There are three graft options for patients: allograft (cadaver ligament), hamstring graft and a patella tendon graft.
Some grafts are more popular than others, but no graft is considered the best solution. My doctor, Gordon Nuber,from the Northwestern Orthopaedic Institute in Chicago, IL, told me that most people opt for the cadaver graft. Honestly, the thought of another person’s ligament inside my kneecap didn’t fly with me–and one of my sister’s friends got an infection from one, which is a risk of the allograft, although not common. Nuber also told me he does not perform hamstring grafts. He realizes people might want it, but in his opinion, the hamstring is too weak. After all, he did author almost 100 orthopaedic publications while reconstructing the likes of the Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs and Da Bears. Sounds like I’m all in for a patella graft.
Wish me luck. (Video from Dr. Bertram Zarins at Mass General Hospital)
Good luck Katie!!! It will be completely fine…I promise. And, you’ll be back on the soccer field in no time.
Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Thanks, guys! Hold down the fort while I’m out of the office
I felt the same way about the cadaver graft. Creepy. My ACL reconstruction used a hamstring graft. My new ACL is strong but I notice that my right hamstring is weaker.
Good luck!
agreed on the cadaver graft! I figured since I already became one in 100 women to tear her ACL, that my chances of getting a virus via allograft were probably pretty good. But that’s just me; I have weird luck.
i’m such a chicken when it comes to physical pain and also my surgeon said he does a lot of allograft surgery. so i’m opting for that. hope it’s not a mistake. fingers & toes crossed! my surgery is in a week! i love reading your blog. it helps me mentally prepare for this new ACL journey!