May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z ACL Injuries ACL reconstruction hardware problem
ACL reconstruction hardware problem |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I had an ACL reconstruction done on 3/19/10 about one week after injuring my knee playing basketball. During surgery they found I also had significant damage to my MCL and the medial and lateral meniscus. My MD cleaned everything up, stitched the lateral meniscus, and did a hamstring repair of the acl. Because of the extent of the meniscus damage, he put me in a locked brace for one week and I was on crutches (toe-touch weight bearing only) for four weeks. I am now almost 5 weeks out and was just informed by my MD after a follow-up x-ray that he will have to go back into my knee to remove a screw that is protruding and inhibiting me from getting to 0 degrees extension. I was very upset to find this out but even more so when he stated there was a 90% chance he would have to redo the entire acl reconstruction using a cadaver acl. I have already been debilitated for 5 weeks and was just beginning to feel someone independent again so this has been a horrible blow. Do you feel this is appropriate action? Does this happen often? Any advice? Dear Ben: Injuries to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) often require intense, long rehabilitation after surgery, sometimes as long as 12 months before return to sporting activities. Since the screw is affecting your range of motion it will also affect your recovery time. Therefore that issue should be addressed as soon as possible. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 May 2010 ) |
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