Who here has busted their ACL?

Thanks all, keep 'em coming! This is who I want to hear from! The experienced folks who had it done years ago and what they're up to now and the results...

I've interviewed four doctors - one in Kitsap (I'm in Bremerton), one at Swedish's ortho associates clinic in Seattle and one in Kirkland who is part of the Proliance system. The fourth guy is my stepuncle, an ortho surgeon in Minn., who recommended the Kirkland doctor. All of them work mostly on athletes.

Of those four, after I tell them I don't want patella tendon b/c of knee sensitivity, for the most part, 3 of the 4 went straight to hamstring while the one of them, who said hamstring would also work, then asked me "how do you feel about cadavers?"

One of them said no cadaver unless you're over 40 (I'm 35) and the hamstring may not work b/c i'm so short (4'11").

A couple folks who received hamstrings years ago said their legs seem to to have less muscle mass and it doesn't feel as strong but it still works but would have gone for patella or cadaver.

I'm about to say screw it, go for the patella b/c, despite the knee sensitivity (which HAS gotten better in my other knee that was done, just, it took 15 years to get to that point), I know it'd be strong.

Granted, 17 years ago, I wasn't exactly the athlete that I am now (or rather, as active, I'm just a putzer in the mountains who likes to get out) but I definitely know my ski season is out for next year (maybe cross country, just to do SOMETHING). I'm a stronger runner and backpacker than I am skier, so that's something to consider ...

Anyway, keep them coming! I'm really valuing this!

Thanks!

I've never heard of age considerations on cadaver. I had mine done at 22 and a family member had his done via cadaver at 19. That lack of strength on the hammy your friends noted is probably the "weakness" my female relative described with her ham job.

I have my both ACLs gone. The first (left) was reconstructed with hamstring tendon. Very difficult and painful rehab, about a year. Since I didn't feel much instability with the second rupture (right), I decided to wait and ski with brace (Donjoy, prescribed) and so far so good, although I am more conservative. If I had any instability while walking and skiing, I would have it repaired.

I did a lot of PT after the second unrepaired tear. I feel it is really important, both after surgical repair because there is a massive injury to muscles and nerves during repair, especially when autograph is used, and after tear without repair to strengthen the muscles. I feel my repaired leg is slightly stronger than the unrepaired one but almost two years after injury this difference is vanishing.

Regarding the brace - I am wondering how effective they are. I like to wear one but many people question their efficacy in injury prevention. I think at least it reminds me that I have to keep my form together and be in control while skiing. I run but I don't like to do contact sports.

When I had my other one done 17 years ago, the doctor said I'd never need a brace and I still never have. Unless I slam it hard against something, like the road after crashing on my bike, it feels very strong.

I'm down to deciding between doing patella and just dealing with knee sensitivity in BOTH knees (since I had patella done in the 17 year old one) or hamstring. The idea of a weakened hamstring concerns me though.

I tore my right/dominant ACL in november 2009. I skied a few times after the tear to get my leg strong before surgery and had a hamstring graft late in december 2010. Pretty painful for a few days, but I was off crutches in a week. Ready to be off in 3 or 4 days but the doc and PT advised against it. I rehabbed religiously, every day, according to a pretty standard protocol, and skied for the first time at 6 months to the day post op. A week later I skied the SW chutes on Adams, and a week after that Lava Ridge. Also had a fun little attempt at Shuksan North Face with Dave Brown somewhere around then that included some pretty heinous bushwacking. Never had any problems then and I have no recurring issues to date. I sometimes have to think hard to remember which knee I busted.

One note I feel strongly about is the use of a brace. I wore a brace for the 3 days following surgery, but never again after that. My doctors and PT were primarily concerned with me regaining full range of motion. When I started skiing I wore one of those black sleeve like braces that have two velco closures-- one above the knee, one below-- primarily to keep my knee warm. It also provided a gentle reminder to ski conservatively. I stopped wearing the sleeve after a year. I believe one of the reasons that my rehab was as sucessful as it was is because I never favored my knee. I could be completely mistaken, but I think wearing a structural brace inhibits the strengthening of stabilizing muscles.

Also, who were your doctors?