May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z ACL Injuries Two Options for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair
Two Options for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair |
|
Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 17 year old athlete. (football, snowboarding, surfing, and wrestling) I tore my anterior cruciate ligament and I am wondering if i should get a grant or a cadaver? and which one would be a faster recovery? *I heard* that a cadaver is better and friends of mine who have had grants say it still hurts. also that a cadaver is faster recovery.. Dear Blake: There are two options for anterior cruciate ligament repair; an allograft or an autograft. An allograft utilizes tissue from a cadaver to replace the tendon while an autograft uses tissue from the patient’s body to do the repair. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Allograft advantages include slightly shorter operation time and theoretically less pain than autografts. Disadvantages include higher risk of infection and thus higher risk of reoperation and possibility that the graft is rejected (again requiring reoperation). They are also expensive. Autografts advantages include slightly faster healing rate, reduced cost when compared to allografts and no possibility of rejection. Disadvantages are increased wound pain, risk of fracturing the knee bone during surgery and increased risk of tendonitis. The most important factor in a successful repair is the positioning of the graft at the time of surgery and not the type of graft used. Regardless of the graft used a lengthy recovery process should be anticipated. It will be greater than six months and averages about 12 months to return to full function. |
|
| Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 February 2010 ) |
|
|
|
|
