NOTES - Surgical Procedures :
OATS??? - - Posted by tina47 (tina47), 21 April 2004
I have just found out I will have the OATS procedure on 7 May 2004, this will be the second knee surgery for me...the first was not OATS, it was pitting of the bone to make the bone bleed and form a clot that replaced my lost cartilege....I am looking for information on OATS...could someone please send me info on good sites to check out...and any personal information would be greatly appreciated.... 
Posted by mtnbikcowboy (mtnbikcowboy), 22 April 2004
Hi, I am in fact 3 weeks post op from an oats, I was looking for info as well, there was a post on here that had a list of great sites, can't find right now, but will keep looking. Put in a search for "osteochondral allograft", you should find lots. In fact if you do it on lycos the first two are good things to read. Hope all goes well. Where and who for your oats
Posted by tina47 (tina47), 23 April 2004
I am having my procedure done in Savannah, Ga by Dr. Wheeler....scheduled for 27 May....how are you doing 3 weeks post op? are you non-weight bearing?..I will be non weight bearing for 6 weeks because of the location of my defect....were you an allograft or an auto graft?....looking for any personal experiences and info so that I go into the operating room well informed and prepared for the rehab that follows...hope to hear back from you.
Posted by mtnbikcowboy (mtnbikcowboy), 23 April 2004
Tina, here is my story, well at least with the knee and surgery. I had/have a local chondral defect on the lateral portion of the medial condyle of my right knee. After, debridement and microfracture, I had an autograft and lateral release a year ago. It was a 10mm plug taken from the same knee in a non weight bearing portion. My defect is weight bearing when my leg is almost straight. With the autograft I was 6 weeks nwb (non weight bearing), then slowly able to start putting weight on it. So from 6-8 weeks I could go 25% and so on. I started weight bearing at the end of May last year and in July I was pretty much normal as far as gait. Still had pain. As I found out last winter, the defect was originally larger than the initial plug. So, I just had an allograft on April 1, 04. This was a 15mm fresh allograft. It was done at Rush Pres. in Chicago. The first and second day were no problems, I then had 4 days with intense pain. After these days the pain was still bad, but manageable with ice, elevation, cpm, and PAIN MEDS (if you are feeling unmanageable pain be persisitent and dont take no for an answer for pain meds). After two weeks I could ease up on the meds, but the more mobile you get the more swollen and such. At three weeks, I am in therapy, and using the continuous passive motion machine at least 6-8 hours a day. It has proven to be a great swelling reducer and pain reliever. It also moves the synovial fluid around in your knee. I have noticed I have callaced palms from the crutches. If memory serves me right. There was increased pain when I started walking from the autograft a year ago. I had a rough month learning how to walk again, had to go back to some meds for a time. I hope this time it is much easier not dealing with a defect as well as re-habbing. Did you get a chance to look at the two first sites on the lycos search? Also, check out knee1.com. I have also found this site to be very helpful. Just reading things has helped me cope. So, after a day or two then some bad days things will start to get better. There is also lots of info on cartilagedoc.org as far as rehab protocol and such that is probably pretty straight forward in the US. Over the winter I did remodel my shower. I found that to be one of the most difficult things to do after surgery. I had a choice of the shower stall or shower in the tub. I either had to stand in a 30" square or step up and over the tub side. I made a 60" x 40" all tile shower with a 4" side lip. I can now just crutch walk in and I have a plastic chair to sit on. So much easier that trying to stand for 8 weeks on one leg. Best of luck, any questions or concerns that I can help with let me know.
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
