Anyone had an ACL reco with LARS method?

[petegogogo]

In doing more research I got this from someone who replied to your statement on the surgery being banned in France, which you did not object.

"The procedure is not banned in France. Some of the hospitals refuse to fund the prosthesis, so it is not available for use in those centres. We have a similar situation in Australia, where a lot of prostheses are not completely covered by our private health.

There is no formal "ban" imposed by a statutory body in France, nor anywhere else in the world, at this stage."

[kjwilkin]

It has actually been reported in The Age newspaper that it is banned in France on numerous occasions.

As you say there is still not evidence about the technique. Will be very interesting to see how it is viewed by the Orthopaedic community say in 5 years time.

[kneegal]

Hey guys,

kjwilkin, i have been through this forum on a number of threads re. knee surgery and i have noticed (without judgement) that you have a very definate opinion on the LARS method. I was just wondering (and with no disrespect as its hard to convey tone in text...: ) why you had such strong objections to the LARS method? I have realised that many new members have asked the LARS vs conventional question and you reply with very similar sentiments to all of them regardless of the heavy debate you have no doubt discussed for both methods. (once again, no disrespect, merely curiosity: )

You have mentioned the banned in France arguement which a few members have replied to. Also, you mention the footballers Malceski and Hille - which trust me, i watch AFL players with great interest when they go down to see their choice of method. I have seen that they do in fact choose the conventional method, and i see it this way. If i was young and i played professional sport where potential earnings would set me up for life, then i would probably opt for the conventional method myself as there is just simply too much at stake. So - i am not suprised these guys opt for conventional. Also, my surgeon tells me LARS is only suggested for some cases. The tear needs to be clean and the knee damage minimal. And Hille, did more damage than the tear only.

Having said that, the beauty of a forum is allowing all people, all opinions. Which is wonderful, and i, like you and others with knee issues, love the opportunity to discuss these opinions. I just fear sometimes, with your very strong view against LARS that you may turn members off the procedure as your view is very dominant.

I only ask that you consider that members are quite scared and unsure of which method they should be choosing. Your views on LARS made me dubious from the onset, and i was looking to opt for conventional as your view was everywhere. Its was only when i dug a little deeper i found other evidence. Everyone of us who have undertaken LARS, in saying we have had positive results, we also add - it isnt for everyone and that there are risks. I ask that you may look at both options also.

Also, like Petegogogo, i ask any person who has had an unsuccessful LARS procedure to please share your experience. We have many posts of those with success, many posts of those who thought it too risky and opted for conventional, posts from those with less conventional method success, but no negatives from having the LARS themselves.

Personally, going on month and a half post op. Everything great, leg presses, bike and gym work. Full steam ahead.

Thanks all, continue the stories and experiences...

Kneegal

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[kjwilkin]

Kneegal,

I have to ask you to tone things down as a moderator. Some of your comments are uncalled for.

For some cases LARS may be suitable. However, a lot of elite athletes are chosing not to go down that path as there is not evidence about its success. In the future I am sure it will be done more once their is more evidence of its success. There needs to be more research done on it too. If a lot of top knee surgeons are not using this method they obviously have good reasons not to, i.e. not enough evidence based research has been done on it.

Yes, the traditional method can fail but still has a very high success rate.

My opinions are based on my work as a sports trainer and talking with numerous high profile sports medicine professionals as well as from what I have read about it.

[kneegal]

kjwilkin, hee hee : )

as i suggested yesterday, tone is difficult to convey via text, and my question was in no inflamatory or derogatory... was merely curiosity - in fact i am unsure how many more smiley faces i needed to put into that reply, so that my question was not taken in a negative light. in fact- may i quote that my question was asked with "no disrespect, merely curiosity: )" i think you might be jumping the gun a little asking me to " to tone things down as a moderator."? I did put at least 2 smiley faces into my response to make sure it was received as light hearted and innocently discussed but i fear it was not taken this way.

Anyway, no harm done. as i said i was just wondering whether you yourself had had a negative experience with LARS due to your resounding opinion against it? and i appreciate your experience as a trainer, but was just amazed at how many replies you have made against it. Whilst i have to remember not to be precious myself with my decision to go with LARS, i can appreciate others are definately against it - its just you are clearly educated and experienced in the world of knees - i just fear your very strong arguements about things like "banned in France" can make members easily scared of the method.

Anyway, i am not sure what i was hoping to achieve with my post as all opinions should be valued. I just dont want other members debating their options, to fear LARS if they only read your sentiments as i first did. As i said, if i didnt dig deeper to find the positive LARS threads, i would have run for the hills screaming from your points... : )

Anyway, as i said before, forums; as long as they are respectful and pleasant are great avenues for positive debate. Do not misinterperet my disagreement with your view to be disrespectful. Just healthy debate. As i go over my reply again, i struggle to find the place where i was disrespectful to you, however i appreciate your view, and hope that this reply has shown my view, whilst being sure to "tone things down".... : ) - insert smiley face again for good measure...

Thanks kjwilkin,

kneegal

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[kjwilkin]

Kneegal,

Thanks for the clarity.

For your information I have also had a lot of knee surgery and wouldn't risk having the LARS procedure as if you get complications it can be more difficult to fix. The more times you are operated on the success rates go down.

[kneegal]

Hey kjwilkin,

Yeah - assumed you had your fair share of knee issues from your understanding and experience.

As you said though - think we'll have to agree to disagree on the LARS. Unfortunately, the jury will be out on this issue for a while, as you said - it will be years before we see the success, or lack thereof of the procedure.

But it will be an interesting wait... : )

I will keep the forum posted on my rehab, month and a half post op now, and good so far.

Thanks,

kneegal.

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[antjo70@tpg.com.au]

I suffered full thickness tears of my ACL, PCL and MCL as a result of a knee dislocation in April 2008. Due to the extent of the damage my surgeon used LARS for my ACL and PCL. Nothing but good news since.

Can run, bike and surf with no problems.

I would have no hesitation in recommending it as a viable alternative.

[lanasingh]

Hi Ben,
Im going in for an ACL reconstruction one week from today. Im booked in for the LARS artificial ligament surgery. Im now being strongly advised not to have that type of procedure was wondering what surgery you had and maybe could give me your view on what is best
Sorry for offtop: Got to be there

[LARS Surgery]

My 18 year old son is 14 months post LARS ACL Repair. I have resisted blogging about his surgery because of the negativity that seems to surround this option for an ACL repair. Since his Dec, 08 surgery in Montreal by Dr. Nicholas Duval he has gone thru rehab, participated 4 months post op in Track and Field, qualifying for the State meet in the 800m, 1600m and as a member of the 4x400m relay team. He did not garner an individual place but the relay team took first at State in a school record breaking time. As a family we were elated for him. My son at the age of 15 tore his ACL in a freshman football game. He has since tore the SAME ACL 2 more times (both repairs were the "gold standard", hamsting then cadaver (never ever choose this option under any circumstance)). If you want to define devastation to a young athlete he was the definition. After his 3rd tear I was on the internet including this site looking for answers. I had very little support but the 3 inspirations, kneedad (who I cannot say enough about), Nick Malceski (Australian Swans Rugby player) and Becky Thomas and a n athlete Winston Fox from California spurred my decision to fly my son to Montreal for this unconventional, non FDA approved surgery. My son is extremely active, he does not sit still so I knew that without an ACL even the passion of longboarding, skiing and skatebording were risky activities to damage his knee further. We had no support form our orthopedic surgeons, we have relied on our GPs for for PT and analysis.

My son is now a high school senior and opted not to play football, but ran cross country and qualified for the State Meet taking 27th. The real test has been his participation in basketball. He played all summer league games(starting 5 months post op) and is know the 6th man off a team that just took 2nd in Districts and is heading to the Divisional tournament hoping to get to the State Tournament. He had not been able to play sice 8th grade. His is a total inspiration to all around him. Have I been a nervous wreck? Believe it and I am still nervous because of what I know, but the way he plays no one could ever tell he has been thru 3 knee surgeries on the same knee.

What we have garnered from this experience is nothing is fail proof, but you attack the problem with the help of others, as in this atomosphere. This information highway has helped us immensely by connecting us with information that crosses all borders. We were at one time without hope and we want others to know their is another solution. When I researched "Multiple ACL tears in the same knee" there were no positive posts about athletic participation in cutting or contact sports.