Bone breaks around the knee :
1 Week Post Op Report - - Posted by brokenknee (brokenknee), 24 September 2003
Well today is 1 week post op for hardware removal from a broken patella and repair of the ACL tear caused by the hardware itself. I started PT today with ROM at 105 on day one. I have no pain but my leg is very weak and I limp slightly from not being able to easily put my full weight on it. My PT says that the limp will go away in a week or so as I regain my quad strength. I have given up the immobilizer, crutches and bandages and use a cane only outside for balance. I feel like I should be able to drive before the end of the week. All in all I am very pleased with how fast I am recovering and I know for me having the hardware removed was a good choice. I can definately feel the difference in my knee and I can tell that the knee moves far more smoothly over the joint. I don't feel like I have this huge ball knee anymore even though it is still swollen larger than the other knee. I actually feel like there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Thanks to everyone for their support!
Posted by lizl (lizl), 25 September 2003
Congratulations!
Here's hoping your recovery breaks records!
LizL (hoping to be hardware-less some day)
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 26 September 2003
Glad to hear you are doing so well, Brokenknee - it gives me hope as I am considering getting my hardware removed as well (now it will be after the Holidays as I want to wait until after I make it through Christmas and New Years to get it done).
Way to go, and please keep us posted!! 
Posted by brokenknee (brokenknee), 26 September 2003
Thanks Liz & Kathy, I can't believe how fast I am recovering. There are 2 others in PT that are just out from hardware removal and they are also recovering just as quickly. I should be back to where I was prior to hardware removal in a total of 2 weeks. Now where I was wasn't where I want to be but it was pretty good. I have full ROM but still can't do stairs up or down. My knee still looks like a football and the scar is even worse than before if that is possible. Doc says the scaring is just my skin type and some people scar and others don't. Lucky me!
Kathy I completely understand your hesitation with so many holiday events coming up. Once burned you never want to go through that again. The first day I thought "What the hell are you doing STUPID" it felt just like it did the day I woke up after the first surgery. But every day after that had no comparison with the first time around and by day 3, I thought "man this is a piece of cake". My fears lie in walking up and down stairs. I have tried a few times to walk up 1 stair and made it with great hesitation but when it comes to going down I am terrified. I have dreams that I take the step down and my knee snaps in half again. No not dream, a nightmare!
Anyway, just know that when you do decide to have the hardware out that you should recover almost immediately and your progress will be swift. Also keep in mind that I had 2 additional procedures done during my hardware removal. He did a Chondroplasty (orthoscoptic drilling that heats the back side of the patella and smooths the surfaces that have grown back together and then fuses them to make it stronger.) Also the wire was sticking into my ACL so he had to do a Synovectomy which removes the wire and shrinks the ACL tendon to close the tear. You might want to discuss the Chondroplasty with your doctor when you go in.
Hope you both have very successful hardware removals. The sooner the better to prevent OA!
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 27 September 2003
Thanks for the advice, BrokenKnee. I go back to see my OS on October 14th, and I am sure we will be discussing my options then. He has even said he would do some cleanup of the scar tissue if needed, and whatever else he could do to smooth everything out while in there.
At any rate, I am pleased to hear of your and others' progress, and I will be glad to keep up with your progress over time. Thanks again!
Posted by lizl (lizl), 29 October 2003
I just found out that WC finally approved and obtained a second opinion appointment for me in regard to hardware removal. I see the second doctor Nov. 12, so I'm officially in line! I'm somewhat unhappy with the fact that WC did not let me choose my own doctor (or consult me on the day/time, for that matter), but my lawyer advises me to keep the appointment. If I am not comfortable with the doctor, we can go from there to seek another one.
I am soooo looking forward to having this surgery and then going back to PT. I need the peace of mind that everything has been done that can be done. The experiences of fellow Kneegeeks has been so reassuring.
Posted by brokenknee (brokenknee), 29 October 2003
Lizl
One of the things that my doctor did was to go under the kneecap and clean out the debris and to use a laser to smooth off the surfaces. When I broke the kneecap and it grew back together it left rough edges underneath, he smoothed those out for me. The procedure is called Chondroplasty (orthoscoptic drilling that heats the back side of the patella and smooths the surfaces that have grown back together and then fuses them to make it stronger.) When you are in talking to the doctor for the second opinion you should ask him/her about this procedure. It did not slow recovery in anyway. Also you need to discuss with the doctor osteoarthritis as to the risks and probability of it and the eventuality of TKR. My doctor tells me that eventually there will be no way around either the arthritis or the TKR the joint will simply wear out. He did not tell me how long that will be but he says it is more than a real possibility. Since you are a WC patient you can hold a secondary action which will allow you to have treatment for the arthritis and if ever the TKR is required will cover that as well. At the very least there should be a settlement for that eventuality. As far as the hardware I just simply would not hesitate to have it out and be done with it. You will definitely notice a difference!!!!
Good Luck! Let me know what happens on that second opinion.
Posted by Pat_A.E. (Pat_A.E.), 29 October 2003
How are you doing with stairs, Brokenknee?
Anyone having problems with tendenitis? I went back to the OS a few weeks ago because of ongoing pain which he said was degenerative tendienitis. The arthritis isn't an immediate concern because the under surface of the patella went together without any rough surfaces. I had strong quad muscles pre-accident which apparently helped keep the many pieces of the patella aligned and prevented them from dropping down. Anyway I'm in PT 2x per week for manual massage and electrical stimulation with anti-inflamitory meds. Back to icing regularly after working out.
Posted by brokenknee (brokenknee), 29 October 2003
Thanks for asking Pat, my knee is handling the stairs pretty well but I have developed the habit of decending the stairs straight legged and it is really hard to break. I really have to think about using both legs when I go up and down. Fortunately I get lots of opportunity for practice with a 3 story house. I have turned my basement into a workout room and the stairs are my stairmaster 
I remember that I actually thought I would never be able to go up and down the stairs like a normal person again but here I am 6 months after the accident and I can (with a little stiffness) do everything I used to do. I am completely finished with PT and I just keep things up on my own but I am sure I will always need anti-imflamitories to control the aches and pains.
I know you have been dealing with your knee for over a year and I am sure that I will also be dealing with the ups and down of it for some time to come. Hope the tendienitists gets better soon!
brokenknee
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
