Cruciate ligaments :

Torn ACL needs some advices - - Posted by sledov (sledov), 26 January 2005

on 6/21/2003 I've torn my ACL and some part of the menisc.. during playng basketball. After spending a year and a half of wondering what to do, and going to different clinics here in Bulgaria, I found out that there is no doctor able to cure my knee. All I need to know is the probability for me to play basketball again. I am ready to go to a 3-rd surgeon, but I want to be sure he's good enough to help me, but not to harm my leg even more like the other ones did. I am ready to go abroad, but I don't know where and I don't know what surgery to do exactly. If anybody who had a successful ACL replacement and had rehabilitated successfuly, please write me. From a year and a half suffering I understood that only good doctor may help me get back to sport activities. please ((
Posted by spartanpele (spartanpele), 26 January 2005

Sledov...I'm sorry to hear about your knee problems.  

All I can tell you is that in the US the procedure is usually done as out-patient surgery (go in during the day, come out by night and go home), and then your rehab (multiple months) starts.  I know of some very good hospitals here in the US, but that wouldn't help you over there unless you're thinking of travelling to the US.

The bigger questions are, how old are you, and how unstable is your knee?  If you're in your 30's or younger you should  look into surgery.  But if you're in your 50's or older, perhaps you should consider giving up sports, strengthen your knee muscles, etc, and continue to live your life without bball.  I guess it comes down to how loose your knee is, can you afford to go somewhere else for advice on your knee, can you afford the surgery, are you still young and want to continue with sports, etc.

You really have a lot of choices, but you need to get some good medical advice before proceeding...  There are some really good websites that detail the different procedures and options.

Best of luck!
Posted by sledov (sledov), 26 January 2005

I think I can make it to go to USA but it all dependes on the expenses ) How much does this surgery cost? I am 21 and I think it's too early for me to give up the basketball
Posted by Gab (Gab), 26 January 2005

Well for me the surgery itself (just the surgeon) came to a little less than $6,000. Then $1,200 for the anasthesiologist, I don't remember how much the surgeon's assistant billed but then you have to factor the all hospital expenses associated with the operating room, nursing staff and that adds up..

I went to a top surgeon in a top hospital and stayed in a top room overnight and when it was all said and done the bill was around $25,000 ...  

Good luck, you could also try to look into an ACL brace to play basketball, it will pretty much prevent tibial subluxation that happens in ACL-deficient knees.

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