Anyone had an ACL reco with LARS method?

[jnrburgers]

Hi,

I am in Melbourne, post op (14 days) of an ACL reconstruction using the LARS method.
So far I'm really happy with all aspects of the surgery, the surgeon - Cameron Norsworthy (hello if ur reading) and my rehab (but early days yet, I was able to walk without cruches 3 days after surgery.)

Is there anyone on this forum who has had an ACL reco with LARS? If so, I'd love to share the experience.

[kjwilkin]

Hi there,

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has had this procedure apart from elite sports people you hear of in the media.

There has been another case of this operation not working with Webster, a Fremantle Dockers player.

I hope your recovery goes well.

[jnrburgers]

Hi there,

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has had this procedure apart from elite sports people you hear of in the media.

There has been another case of this operation not working with Webster, a Fremantle Dockers player.

I hope your recovery goes well.

Thanks Kjwilkin,
I've just had a quick search of the net, seems as though the LARS operation didn't fail as much as the Webster's past knee problems (seems a cartilage injury helped him decide to end his career).
This was published in watoday.com.au (27/08/2008): "Fremantle's Luke Webster has said he would recommend the revolutionary "artificial ligament" knee surgery which both he and Sydney's Nick Malceski has undergone - despite the procedure failing to save his career at the Dockers.
...the 25 year-old, who had hoped the revolutionary LARS knee procedure might enable him to prolong his playing days, said if it was available to players, they should consider it - and was still happy he had gone through with his."

[BJT]

Way to go---bucking the traditional and using LARS. My son had this surgery 3yrs ago and has never had a problem. No crutches or braces. Full extension/flexation very quickly. Back to sport in 4 weeks. Happy healing!

[kjwilkin]

It's actually a very risky way to go. If it fails can cause more damage and require the gold standard ACL repair, like Webster and one of the Melbourne Storm players.

Hope it works for you though.

[jnrburgers]

Way to go---bucking the traditional and using LARS. My son had this surgery 3yrs ago and has never had a problem. No crutches or braces. Full extension/flexation very quickly. Back to sport in 4 weeks. Happy healing!

Thanks for this vote of confidence. Don't think I will be back to sport in quite the same time, but sounds as though your son had a very positive experience. I'm no where near an elite or even semi elite sports person, so my new ligament won't be put through the grind like some of the prof. footballers. I just wanted some quality of life and hated the thought of not being able to involve myself in a little fun sometimes.

Thanks for your post.

[kneedad]

It's actually a very risky way to go. If it fails can cause more damage and require the gold standard ACL repair, like Webster and one of the Melbourne Storm players.

Hope it works for you though.

Please provide te study that shows this, based on any Lars in the last 10 years.

The old version of synthetic did fail quite often, the newer version is not made of the same material as the older version. There is not increased damage to the knee if it fails. In fact the Lars procedure provides less trauma if it fails for two reasons, the graph can be easily removed as the screw placement in different than normal plus you have all your legiments left with not prior damage if your choose to go the other route.
With the Lars you are healing only the ACL, not your petella or hams.

[kjwilkin]

This is based on talking to physios and other sports medicine professionals who work with elite athletes and footballers and from what I've read. The Melbourne Storm player had more damage to his knee as a result of the LARS technique failing. A lot of top knee surgeons in Melbourne won't do this operation as they consider there hasn't been enough evidence of success with this procedure. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years.

[Nath11]

Look at the 2 AFL players & Wendel Sailor over the last week - all 3 ruptured their ACL's,
elite sportsmen & all 3 are having the normal knee reco & not the LARS method - also the guy at the Swans who had the LARS reco has not played the last few games due to knee soreness - rumour is that he needs another op to go in & clear out some of the artificial graft.....

[jnrburgers]

Look at the 2 AFL players & Wendel Sailor over the last week - all 3 ruptured their ACL's,
elite sportsmen & all 3 are having the normal knee reco & not the LARS method - also the guy at the Swans who had the LARS reco has not played the last few games due to knee soreness - rumour is that he needs another op to go in & clear out some of the artificial graft.....

I am no expert on LARs other than recovering from the operation myself. However, on researching the graft I was told by kjwilkin's most favourite surgeon (and well deserved) that traditional acl reconstructions can and do fail also. The level of physical stress that these footballers undergo means their body is always at risk, whether they've had a hamstring/patella reco or (the stronger) LARs reco. I mentioned in the above post, that the Freemantle player who has recently retired after a LARs reco has recommended it to other suitable players. People are saying his LARs reco failed but the failure was his meniscus. So please don't assume or look to rumours. I'm with you kneedad, show me the facts/studies.

P.S. As to how the specialist knee surgeons feel, Julian Feller actually told me that he could well be performing the LARs reco in the future...