Never knew that they can now do full blown knee surgery and send you home on the same day! Anyway it seem's Creepy getting a Donor's ACL. This really made me realize how important it is to be a "Organ and Tissue Donor." I just hope this person had a good life or wasn't some Junkie. Regardless I am grateful! This is the first serious knee injury I recieved skiing or rockclimbing. Two meniscus tear's, Ruptured ACL,torn fibular collateral ligament, and several grade 2 hamstring tear's. I was exicited to hear the Doc say I'll be out Rockclimbing and Skiing in Approx. 1 Yr. You'd think that I would have been excited that I didn't need an knee replacement. Weird thing is I didn't fall when I injured my knee but my ski didn't come off when I hit a rock or something under the snow as I had the binding's cranked down. Extreme sport's are what they are eventually when you push hard enough you are going to get hurt! But of course everyone know's that.

I tore my ACL in 2004 and used my patella tendon. My doctor recommended that or my hamstring for the new ligament. He said the donor was third choice and not generally recommended for someone young and active. Curious why your doctor is using a donor?

Just curious as I'm not a doctor and your injury is way more severe than mine.

I was climbing 6 months afterwards and actually did 22 pitches of 5.7-5.9 in a day on the Sheepshead down in Cochise. However, I was taking it very easy, had the carbon fiber brace on, and ruined a pair of pants sliding down my butt on the descents. I was way more worried about slipping while going down then the slow controlled upward climbing movements. Also it took more like a year to be able to properly run again without a hitch. And to be honest 2 years until I felt 'normal' again and didn't think about the knee anymore.

If you are serious about rehab then it will go a lot smoother...just don't rush back into anything which might reinjure it. Though probably 22 pitches would be considered that!

Paul,
I was wondering what other Folk's had to say. This is why I posted! I'll definitely be asking more questions. I was told the "Donor ACL" is what he uses on all "Baseball Player's" and all other Atheletes. I'll surely be asking more question's before it is done.

I've been told as well that the cadaver graft (which is generally an achilles tendon) is not as durable as a autograft. I'm getting a hamstring autograft, as my surgeon thinks that patellar tendonitis is more common with patients who get the patellar autgraft.

I'm told that I should be good to run a 100 miler in august (surgery this month), do a NIAD in september, etc.

My doctor also recommended the hamstring, but I have a history of tigh,t weak hams and didn't want to lose anything there. He said the patella was the 'gold standard' and that hamstrings were a newer but extremely promising alternative to the patella - except for hamstring heavy athletes like NFL cornerbacks for example. Patella's were worse for people who kneel a lot and it still is sensitive there for kneeling. Though I've had no problems with tendonitis.

If I remember you lose the muscles the hamstring ligaments are attached to forever. Though this translates to only a 10% loss...if I remember correctly.

Everything I read basically said the cadaver ligaments are the most prone to breaking again and rejection by your body. Unless you know this thing is from Jesse Owens, or perhaps Warren Harding in our case...you have no idea what kind of body it is coming from. I read about way too many horror stories with cadaver ligaments online to go for that. My doctor said it was more common with older people who won't put so much stress on their joint after the operation and also don't want another 'injury' to heal from - which is essentially what the ham or patella deal is.

I would also say that besides the physical therapy, cycling was the best thing for the knee. No stress and a great muscle builder.

Patella or hamstring grafts are the preferred choice for young, active individuals. The cadaver graft is generally reserved for older, less active individuals or those whose patella or hamstrings are unsuitable.

The cadaver graft has a much quickier recovery, which might be why your doctor prefers it. Your doctor also might not be as experienced performing hamstring or patella grafts, so it might be worth seeking a second opinion.

I know probably 50 people who have torn and repaired their ACL (living in a ski town, that'll happen)... and I only know one person who has had a cadaver graft. The rest are split 50/50 between hamstring and patella.

Andy,
I would have had my knee repaired in "Jackson" that week! But my "Jackoff" insurance company said they wouldn't pay for it since it was out of the state of Arizona. I have a $576.00 bill from "St. Johns Medical Center" that they said won't be payed either. I have "Healthcare Group Of Arizona Insurance Plan" and anything out of state is considered out of the network. Major emergencies only and then I'd bet they would still try to weasel out of that! Besides the injury occured Jan 9th, 08 and I have been waiting for authorization's for everything that has to be done. 4 week's later and still no surgery,this is why I pay big money for insurance!!!!:(
Anyway it's funny that everyone in Jackson said congratulation's on blowing out your ACL your a local now! My comment was I may be in the near future. I was lucky to have experienced 4 day's of epic condition's before my injury, local's say it's the 3rd best season in history.

Tico,
Run 100 Miles in 6 month's. Now that is some serious recovery. Good to know!

Thank's