Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery

[horn]

Has anyboby ever had replacement ACL surgery, what the recovery time was (how long off flying) and what the CAA's position is with regard to a Class One medical, any replies appreciated.
Cheers

[frigatebird1]

Horn...a friend of mine had the surgery last year, took about six months until she fully recovered and she's very pleased with the results. I have lose ACLs in one leg after an accident twenty odd years ago, it doesn't seem to bother my AME issuing my class I. Depends how limited your movement is, or how stable your joint is I suppose. Good luck!

[exaac]

Horn yes i had it done just over ten years ago after i had ongoing dislocations due to the broken ligament and eventual cartilage damage which seized the knee immobile. I had about three months with no flying and was not at the point where i could jog quickly but could easily push the pedals before i was let lose by the ame. since then i have never had more than a few questions and a few flexibility and strength tests to keep a class one medical ever since. Do check around though for a good surgeon of course some are better than others. My brother also had it done and if you look at my knee there is only the neatest almost invisible scare and i have had no problems since , my brother however has a knee that looks like somebody attacked him with a chainsaw and has not been as trouble free with his where i think that getting mine fixed was the best thing i have ever done. Believe me you want it done right the first time.

[GulfStreamV]

Horn,

I had Anteria & Posterial & Medial ligaments removed! + the top of the leg bone came off in the process and had to be glued/sewn back on!(Footballing injury - Hyperextended - It Hurt like hell!)

I hadn't taken up flying at the time, but 6 months after my accident went to get my PPL with a view to going commercial and my Class 1 - Basically I had to push the AME off of the end of the couch with my feet, to simulate fully rudder deflection...So I don't think you will have any problems.

GV

[horn]

Thanks very much for the replies everyone, have found a surgeon that has over a hundred ops just on knee ligaments and he assures me his success rate is quite high! GV, ouch!

[woftam]

With due respect to the surgeon you found Horn,a hundred ops of this kind is not many.
The top specialists in this field can do around four or five a DAY!(Granted they may only operate on one or two days every week,but that very quickly makes a hundred ops easy to achieve.)
As others have said,look around and find a very good and experienced surgeon.
You want it right the first time.

[Jon Gulliver]

I had ACL reconstruction two and a half years ago in Davos after a nasty fright on the slopes. If I had had to have the operation here, and I don't know where you live, I would have gone to Chris Coates at the Mt Alvernia Hospital in Guildford. He managed my recouperation and has a very good track record in thousands of these operations. I had the operation in mid-February and was back at work in late April. If you are sporty and like to keep active my advice would be to go for a hamstring graft rather than patella tendon graft-my surgeon in Switzerland suggested that as the best option after a long ranging discussion into my lifestyle. I concur the previous advice, make sure you go to a specialist in this type of operation and if poss go for an epidural then you can watch as well!!!

Regards

[GulfStreamV]

Atropos,

I agree - Chris Coates was my surgeon - but he was at the Royal Surrey (Guildford) at the time - He's a big rugby playing bloke as well - knows his onions alright!

GV

[woftam]

Atropos,
Spot on!
The hamstring graft is the way to go for sporty people.
I know a few sporty types who have had patella grafts who have knee pain after exercise. The hamstring graft is more flexible and better suited for sports.
Agree with the epidural as well.
That will be 50 pounds please.

[Martin]

I can also recommend Anthony Leyshon who operates in NW Kent private or state.
He operated on me 10 years ago. Superb job.
I agree with every one else. 6 months off flying. Mainly because its best not too rush the recovery.

[KYGMSY]

After a football injury at school, I found that the cruciate ligaments in my leg were 2cm too big which is causing problems as it keeps dislocating. Physio says to just keep leg muscles strong but still having problems.

I already have a class 3 medical, will it prevent me from getting a class 1 ?

[Eliason]

I had reconstruction 1 1/2 years ago... also hamstring. Went well, recovered fast (slow jog after about 6 weeks). Haven't tried to get a class 1 (yet - as I work as cabincrew so far ). But the knee is surely more stable reconstructed than without ACL...

More about ACLs:
Bob's ACL WWWBoard