Seems that eski is the proud new owner of polyester ligaments after undergoing a new form of surgery that has had great success in Europe.
Daily Telegraph 26th Feb
Mike Sheahan
SYDNEY'S Nick Malceski could be back playing football within three months of having major knee surgery.
Malceski had his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament repaired in Sydney on Friday in a procedure that has revolutionised knee repairs in Europe.
He was walking unaided yesterday, just three days after surgery, even doing light exercise.
The Swans hope he will return as soon as Round 8 (May 18).
Malceski, 22, happily agreed to the procedure when informed it offered the opportunity to play this year.
Injured in Launceston on February 17, he underwent what is known as a ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS), where a ligament made of industrial-strength polyester fibres is used to replace the torn natural ligament.
Sydney's club doctor Nathan Gibbs learned of the LARS advance 15 months ago during one of the club's now famous intelligence-gathering missions to Europe.
Malceski was operated on by a Sydney orthopaedic surgeon who has been using the technique for 12 months, under the guidance of the visiting French surgeon who pioneered the surgery.
"With the LARS procedure, it's an inert ligament. You screw it in and, technically, it's as strong as it will be from day one," Gibbs said.
"In simple terms, the basic way we've done cruciate re-constructions is you put some new tissue or material in there to reconstruct or recreate the cruciate ligament.
"Most of the time you take body parts, usually a tendon from the kneecap or from the hamstring.
"Not having to take tendons means you don't have the trauma of getting over that side of things, so the rehabilitation is quicker for that reason alone.
"The ideal time to try this procedure is when you've got an important player who is injured early in the season so there's plenty of time to get back."
Now THAT seems like great news for all players...not sure if other AFL players or top level sportsmen in the country have had the same type of surgery yet but it could be great news for the future if results are good....if he plays even very late this season it'd be a great success.
Daily Telegraph 26th Feb
Mike Sheahan
SYDNEY'S Nick Malceski could be back playing football within three months of having major knee surgery.
Malceski had his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament repaired in Sydney on Friday in a procedure that has revolutionised knee repairs in Europe.
He was walking unaided yesterday, just three days after surgery, even doing light exercise.
The Swans hope he will return as soon as Round 8 (May 18).
Malceski, 22, happily agreed to the procedure when informed it offered the opportunity to play this year.
Injured in Launceston on February 17, he underwent what is known as a ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS), where a ligament made of industrial-strength polyester fibres is used to replace the torn natural ligament.
Sydney's club doctor Nathan Gibbs learned of the LARS advance 15 months ago during one of the club's now famous intelligence-gathering missions to Europe.
Malceski was operated on by a Sydney orthopaedic surgeon who has been using the technique for 12 months, under the guidance of the visiting French surgeon who pioneered the surgery.
"With the LARS procedure, it's an inert ligament. You screw it in and, technically, it's as strong as it will be from day one," Gibbs said.
"In simple terms, the basic way we've done cruciate re-constructions is you put some new tissue or material in there to reconstruct or recreate the cruciate ligament.
"Most of the time you take body parts, usually a tendon from the kneecap or from the hamstring.
"Not having to take tendons means you don't have the trauma of getting over that side of things, so the rehabilitation is quicker for that reason alone.
"The ideal time to try this procedure is when you've got an important player who is injured early in the season so there's plenty of time to get back."
Now THAT seems like great news for all players...not sure if other AFL players or top level sportsmen in the country have had the same type of surgery yet but it could be great news for the future if results are good....if he plays even very late this season it'd be a great success.
