KNEE ARTHRITIS - Autologous chondrocyte implantation (A.C.I.) :

Autologous chondrocyte transplant - - Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 14 October 2003

Can anybody tell me if they have had this done, and a bit about it.  I am waiting for the surgery and just want to know if anyone has any storys they could tell me (good or bad).  I also want to know if you can walk after or if you have to lay off it for a week or so? How many stitches if any? Etc.....
Posted by dm (dm), 15 October 2003

see the topic on this board regarding aci. there's a whole thread about it.
Posted by Jules (Jules), 20 October 2003

HI
I'm also waiting for a date from Oswestry UK for the ACI, have to have the right knee done first and then the left 12 months after.
I have found out loads of information, depending how bad the lesion is, but in my case its 48 hours on the cpm and then 6 weeks non weight bearing (crutches) and 4 months off work! Most surgeons like to use staples to close the incision but you can have subcuticular stitches although these can gape with the swelling of the knee, and it swells to 3 or 4 times the normal size. The rehabilation period is hard work and long time on going, but the results are very positive.
But the main thing I have found out is that you need to build up the muscles around the knee, in the leg and in the arms to be able to cope on the crutches and to speed the recovery afterwards. There is no rushing the rehabilitation period to a short space of time as this very easily aggrevates the effected knee and sets the rehabilitation time back.
Have you a date for your surgery yet? Hope this has helped some what, there are many sites that you can print off rehabilitation notes and many on here as what to expect.
Jules
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 21 October 2003

Thanks for your reply Jules.
I am still waiting for a date, but am supposedly on the emergency waiting list!
Have you got a date for yours yet?
I'm going to the gym but the only real leg exersise I can do is rowing, as everything else hurts!!
RSVP
Posted by Jules (Jules), 21 October 2003

Rowing Thats the worse one for me!!
I can do the bike, the one thats like stepping but feels like your slidding your feet on snow (can't remember what its called) I do treadmill at 1% incline then I do some leg ones and arms ones ready to support me for those crutches! Then after all that I do 8 -12 lengths in the pool which really helps. Someone told me to walk in the pool this will help with strenghtening your leg muscles. Most of what I do are non or very little weight bearing excersises so can be done easily, but I won't lie, my kneess do aches and stiffen afterwards, but then as they say no pain no gain, and if my muscles are strong by the time I have my surgery then my recovery should be a lot quicker. No I haven't go a date yet I hate the waiting!
Jules
Posted by JulianUK (JulianUK), 22 October 2003

Stan,

I'm now 11 weeks post-op MACI. I was done at Stanmore.
So far rehab has been progressing slowly but steadily. I was doing alot of bike work and pool work before my op to build up the muscles. You also need to build up your arms to support you on the crutches and lose weight if necessary. I weight train anyway so it hasn't been a problem, but I still shed a stone I had put on.

Once you've had the op remember that we all recover at different speeds, and depending on how bad your defect is will dictate how quickly you recover.
The pain hasn't completely gone away but far better than before. I've been walking on the treadmill with my PT just a week and it feels weird.
As Jules says do some pool walking. I'm lucky my club has a pool that's 1.5m depth the whole length. It's currently my favourite exercise.

If you want more advice just ask. I had to wait a year for my op and that was worse than having it done.

Kind regards,

Julian.
Posted by Jules (Jules), 22 October 2003

Julian,
You had to wait a year for your op? Was that from the date you first saw the surgeon? I keep hearing about the MACI, I'm having the ACI, they told me 6 - 12 months, I was hoping nearer 6 months, but who knows? The MACI means not having the graft taken from the tibia, is that right? I'm not sure if Oswestry do that yet, maybe I should enquire.
I find the pool great, but I haven't took the plunge to do the walking in the water, I just swim, I feel I would look a right plonker walking up and down the pool on my own, but I know I must do it, and the first times always the worst. Usually I don't care what other people think, but I think you feel a bit more vunerable when there are people sitting on the seats at the side of the pool watching. Any tips on overcoming this fear would be greatly appreciated.
Jules
Posted by becks23 (becks23), 17 November 2003

Hi stan
I have just had the Autologous chondrocyte transplant to my patella and formal joint. Its now 6 weeks after my op and hey im still on crutches. All can say is the operation is not to bad but you are left with a healthy scar right doen the center of the knee.I had 26 staples in my knee to hold it together for 10 days while in plaster. Now 6 weeks on i am on one crutch nearly fully weight baring and pain free. I am just starting my re-hab on land after many weeks off hydro theropy in the pool. hope this answers your question.
Regards Mike
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 18 November 2003

Thanks Mike,
Did you have it done in the uk
Posted by becks23 (becks23), 18 November 2003

Stan
      Yes i had my Operation done in the Uk in October this year. How is your re-hab going any problems?
I didnt see the date when i last posted my message when your Op was done.

Mike


Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 18 November 2003

Mike,

I am still waiting for mine!!!
Been waiting for 6 mths, where did you have yours done?
Posted by becks23 (becks23), 18 November 2003

Stan
       I had mine done on PPP at the Roding Hospital in London by a Consultant called MR lang-Stevenson who is one of the top knee doctors in the UK. He has treated many top famous sports men and women in the UK.
Have you got private health care if so i only waited 3 weeks for a graft to to taken and then 4 weeks for full operation. I
f you are private it maybe they are stalling you which is the trouble i had up until a week before my first operation.  
Are you from the UK?
Regards Mike
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 18 November 2003

Mike,
My knee was from a previous ingury so I can't have it done under my Bupa!!!
I am in the UK, in Basingstoke if you know it?
I'm on the waiting list but they have only just cleared it with the Hospital directors to do the operation and I am 3rd on the list.
I'd rather not have it done now until the new year anyway!!
Posted by richie (richie), 18 November 2003

Hi Stan
I have just had my ACI operation done, 6 days post-op. I waited around six months for mine as bupa would not cover my knee from previous injuries. I too had to wait for funding but once this has been approved it will be quick.
Where are you having your op done, as i used to live in Camberely!
I had the MACI technique and have not experienced much pain, but the crutches are a pain. If you need any info just shout.
cheers rich
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 18 November 2003

Hi Richie,

Having mine done in Basingstoke, small world though.  I used to have to get my scan's done in Frimley (mri), in fact I was there last sunday having a roast dinner in the Toby Cavery!!!
Funding is all Ok'd but still 3rd in list and they havn't started yet!!!
How long did you stay in, and have you had to have loads of staples
RSVP
Posted by richie (richie), 18 November 2003

Hi Stan
I was in hospital for 1 day, in the day surgery unit. I have not actually seen the scar on my knee yet, i have physio on Friday where all the bandaging is due to come off. I am currently in the first week of 6-8 weeks of partial weight bearing.
I was also 3rd in the list and once they start they usually do them in the same week to keep up their surgical procedure.
Are they doing the MACI or the periosteum flap ACI with yours, as the pain will be much different depending.
Cheers rich
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 18 November 2003

Richie,

I'm not sure which their doing yet, but have been told it could be 3 days in hospital.
It's amazing all the diffrent after care that people are having!!!
I was shi*%ing myself, but if you were only in for a day it doesn't sound so bad!!  All the other operations I have had I have always been in and out same day!!
Posted by becks23 (becks23), 18 November 2003

Stan / Richie
I think as Richie pointed out many Consultants have differnt ways of re-hab for this OP. I was in hospital for 3 days which to be honest was a breeze no pain really at all, then  in plaster for 10 days.I then had the plaster  removed along with the staples and am now a pround owner of a 8 inch scare lol. I was fully weight baring with crutches at 2 weeks,now 6 weeks on and one crutch but have done a lot of static quad work.  I now only attend physio once a week which is friday this week and i am sure i will be off crutches within 7 days. I must say most of my re-hab has been in a hydro pool which has really helped me. Again the pain levels for this OP seem so differnt i honestly can say my ACL OP in 2001 was far worse.
Stan anything you need to be re assured about mate drop me a line & Richie seems your re-hab going ok to well done

This old Forum was so valuable that we have kept it as an archive. It is just for reference. If you want to ask questions or offer advice, there is also a current Bulletin Board which you can access from our home page.

Advertisement