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

Newbie-info? - - Posted by kmmbradley (kmmbradley), 13 May 2004

Hi all!
My son, who is just 17 is having this procedure on June 9.   He is the youngest that his surgeon has ever done.
He is a pitcher and has had  2 scopes already in his young life.
His lesion is 2 x 2 and his surgeon says he is the perfect candidate.  It is his right knee.
Is anyone out here this young and if so, have you begun sports again?  How long did your rehab  take before ready for sports again.  How long before you were able to drive?
His stay in the hospital will just be overnight.  I hope this will be long enough.  They also say he will be given a block and won't feel any pain the first day.
How soon does rehab begin?
Any advise would be appreciated.
Posted by blue_ezzie (blue_ezzie), 14 May 2004

Hi,

I can't give you tooo much info because I am pretty new to this too. But my experience with this op has been positive in the very early days.

Is your son having the MACI (matrix-induced ACI) or the older style ACI using the periosteum flap? I had the MACI procedure last week. There was much less pain than I expected - I had a nerve block in my leg and this worked a treat. Even after the nerve block wore off, I did not experience really intense pain. I only stayed in hospital overnight and took pain medication for 4 days after the op.

I am still in a straight brace and will be non-weightbearing for the next 5 weeks. My surgeon then thinks that I will be able to walk without the aid of crutches, although I will be happy to stay partial-weightbearing and on crutches for a little longer. I have been told that I will need physio for 4 months, but that they won't be certain if the procedure has worked for 12 months. I've also been told that I should hold off on any really active sports for 12 months, which I am more than happy to do if this means that I will have a functioning knee for the rest of my life. I could drive an automatic car now but wouldn't drive a manual car for the next 5 weeks or so, until I am allowed to put weight on the knee.

I'm 22 and this gives me a pretty good chance of success with the procedure...your son at 17 has an even better chance! Apparently the younger you are, the better your cartilage regenerates. Best of luck to him (and you! I have been so lucky to have my mother's support through all of this, I couldn't have done it without her).

blue ezzie

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