Malceski could be back by round 8
Mike Sheahan | February 26
AS FUTURISTIC as it sounds, Sydney's Nick Malceski could be back playing football within three months after the biggest knee surgery of them all.
Malceski had his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament repaired in Sydney on Friday in a procedure that has revolutionised knee repairs in Europe.
The dashing half-back 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).
Conventional wisdom in football says players don't play in the year in which they tear the ACL.
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 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.
"He (Dr J. P. Labouro) was in Australia lecturing about the technique the very week Malceski was injured, which was extremely fortuitous," Dr Gibbs said.
"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.
"In simple terms, the basic way we've done cruciate reconstructions 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. If it's unsuccessful, you would know by May-June, and he'd still have plenty of time to do the traditional operation and be back for the following season."
Malceski agreed to take the risk after discussions with officials, coaching staff and his family.
"We're confident it's not going to fail, but if the worst thing happens, then we know we won't stuff up two seasons," Dr Gibbs said.
Malceski had his other knee reconstructed in conventional style in 2004, missing the entire season.
"We're aiming for 12 weeks, which would mean Round 8-9," Dr Gibbs said. "The first seven to 10 days, he's just waiting for the wounds to heal, although he's already doing some static quadricep work and things like that."
Malceski is expected to start running again after six weeks.
"There's some great anecdotal stories. American gridiron players fly to Europe to get their cruciates done," Dr Gibbs said.
"One guy played after weeks and played the last 10 games."
Already several players are expected to miss the 2008 AFL season because of knee injuries from pre-season games.
They include Fremantle's Paul Hasleby and Brad Dick (Collingwood) and Mitch Brown (West Coast) from the same game in Albany at the weekend.
* I just thought this might be of some interest. It would be fantastic if it was successful, not just for Nick Malceski, but any player who does a knee.
Mike Sheahan | February 26
AS FUTURISTIC as it sounds, Sydney's Nick Malceski could be back playing football within three months after the biggest knee surgery of them all.
Malceski had his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament repaired in Sydney on Friday in a procedure that has revolutionised knee repairs in Europe.
The dashing half-back 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).
Conventional wisdom in football says players don't play in the year in which they tear the ACL.
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 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.
"He (Dr J. P. Labouro) was in Australia lecturing about the technique the very week Malceski was injured, which was extremely fortuitous," Dr Gibbs said.
"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.
"In simple terms, the basic way we've done cruciate reconstructions 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. If it's unsuccessful, you would know by May-June, and he'd still have plenty of time to do the traditional operation and be back for the following season."
Malceski agreed to take the risk after discussions with officials, coaching staff and his family.
"We're confident it's not going to fail, but if the worst thing happens, then we know we won't stuff up two seasons," Dr Gibbs said.
Malceski had his other knee reconstructed in conventional style in 2004, missing the entire season.
"We're aiming for 12 weeks, which would mean Round 8-9," Dr Gibbs said. "The first seven to 10 days, he's just waiting for the wounds to heal, although he's already doing some static quadricep work and things like that."
Malceski is expected to start running again after six weeks.
"There's some great anecdotal stories. American gridiron players fly to Europe to get their cruciates done," Dr Gibbs said.
"One guy played after weeks and played the last 10 games."
Already several players are expected to miss the 2008 AFL season because of knee injuries from pre-season games.
They include Fremantle's Paul Hasleby and Brad Dick (Collingwood) and Mitch Brown (West Coast) from the same game in Albany at the weekend.
* I just thought this might be of some interest. It would be fantastic if it was successful, not just for Nick Malceski, but any player who does a knee.
