AFC and LARS

[Sekaj]

Seems like we are hesitant/reluctant in having our players undergo this revolutionary LARS procedure.

Whilst its taken over a year since his original operation, Malceski looks like he's playing better footy than ever (I know because he's been killing it for my supercoach team).

Given Malceski is living proof that the surgery can, in fact, be effective, should this be something the club looks at if any of our players were to be unlucky enough to rupture an ACL?


Malceski radical surgery's poster boy

SYDNEY Swans defender Nick Malceski says his return to form in 2010 should boost the hopes of other knee injury victims who choose to fast-track their return with radical surgery.

"I guess it has given them confidence, knowing that it's worked for me. I'd recommend it to anyone and anyone who wants advice, I'm happy to give it," he said.

 

[andrew23]

If a young gun like Dangerfield or Tippett go down with an injury (touch wood) I would wanna be taking every precaution available in getting them back to 100%.

 

[WALL-e]

Need to have part of the ligament still attached. Otten, Martin and Burton were complete tears. That's no choice then.

If it is an option, it's that weigh up. You'd do it for a player over 28, but would you risk it on a young player with his career ahead of him?

It seems a safe surgury, but you don't know.

 

[Southerntakeover]

What are the long term effects would be my question.


Its important to remember: its not just about when a player can return to active playing, far more important is their long term well being.

 

[ruscy002]

WALL-e is right, some part of the ligament has to remain in tact. Fairly sure it ruled out Otten and Martin but not sure about Burton. Even then I think there was still widespread uncertainty about the safety of this surgery at the time of Burton's injury...even now it might still be banned in some parts of the world, France had banned it at the time.

 

[cmndstab]

What are the long term effects would be my question.


Its important to remember: its not just about when a player can return to active playing, far more important is their long term well being.

Absolutely. Are there any studies yet about the long-term effects of this surgery, or is it still too new?

 

[Jilly]

Just to clear things up, it wasn't possible for Otten to have the LARS surgery.

"My ACL was ruptured too much for the new LARS synthetic one (procedure)," Otten revealed. "I didn't have enough (material) attached on either side of the joint to get that so I just had the conventional hamstring, tendon graft.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...n-for-andy-otten/story-e6freck3-1225809321421

EDIT: Otten also states that he was hesitant at getting the surgery anyway, considering it was still too new and it was unknown if it had any side effects further down the track.

 

[Mismatched]

WALL-e is right, some part of the ligament has to remain in tact. Fairly sure it ruled out Otten and Martin but not sure about Burton. Even then I think there was still widespread uncertainty about the safety of this surgery at the time of Burton's injury...even now it might still be banned in some parts of the world, France had banned it at the time.

Burton certainly couldn't have the LARS either, otherwise I'm sure he would have gone down that road considering how close to the end of his career he was, he'd probably want to get back onto the park and ensure his spot asap. With a youngster such as Otten however, with potentially 10+ years ahead of him, you just don't want to risk a longer term complication.

Moran's a prime example, had a revolutionary surgery on his PCL tear and thanks to complications will end up missing a similar amount of footy to that of a ACL tear victim, where as the normal healing time for a PCL is 8-12 weeks.

 

[Bicks]

Did I read somewhere Power's David Rodan was likely returning to the game 4 months after the LARS procedure????

His comeback will be watched with interest!!

 

[relapse]

Burton certainly couldn't have the LARS either, otherwise I'm sure he would have gone down that road considering how close to the end of his career he was, he'd probably want to get back onto the park and ensure his spot asap. With a youngster such as Otten however, with potentially 10+ years ahead of him, you just don't want to risk a longer term complication.

Moran's a prime example, had a revolutionary surgery on his PCL tear and thanks to complications will end up missing a similar amount of footy to that of a ACL tear victim, where as the normal healing time for a PCL is 8-12 weeks.

If I remember correctly didnt the club actively look into the possiblity of having Burton undergo the procedure, but found that it wasnt possible with the injury he had ?? I dont think the club appears to be adverse to having it done if we had a player that had the type of injury that was applicable for the surgery.

 

[crowralph]

could be wrong, but i remember otten saying that the issue with lars was that there wasn't enough long term data on it. meaning that as a 20yo (guess), there is no evidence suggesting how the surgery will perform as a 30yo. bookmark this. all players (who are not elite) needing an acl who are around mid to late 20's will go lars from now on. the younger ones will have to wait and see what type of long term performance is capable of that procedure. i reckon with the info at hand he made the long term correct choice. if he goes again as a 25yo, lars might be the way.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

Absolutely. Are there any studies yet about the long-term effects of this surgery, or is it still too new?

given how new the procedure is there are yet no case studies available that enable experts to draw any conclusions on the long term effects

 

[WALL-e]

could be wrong, but i remember otten saying that the issue with lars was that there wasn't enough long term data on it. meaning that as a 20yo (guess), there is no evidence suggesting how the surgery will perform as a 30yo. bookmark this. all players (who are not elite) needing an acl who are around mid to late 20's will go lars from now on. the younger ones will have to wait and see what type of long term performance is capable of that procedure. i reckon with the info at hand he made the long term correct choice. if he goes again as a 25yo, lars might be the way.

Was also a full tear of the ligament. No LARS available.

70% of the time this surgery won't be available, of that 30%, do you want to risk it on the younger players?

 

[crowralph]

Was also a full tear of the ligament. No LARS available.

70% of the time this surgery won't be available, of that 30%, do you want to risk it on the younger players?

not on our players or any players. once guys like malceski and rodan finish their careers without further complications then there will be some legs in the procedure. but if the procedure is sound, gradually players will be having it younger and younger. if both those guys break down in the next couple of years, then it will be doubtful. hard to know where it's going to end up.

 

[Vader]

The question is what happens in the mid-long term, when the artificial ligament breaks down.

The LARS procedure involves inserting an artificial ligament. This provides a structure for the natural ligament to grow around, noting that the procedure is only applied when the natural ligament is not completely torn. The artificial ligament is designed to dissolve and break down after about 10 years.

My understanding is that this method was first applied about 5 years ago (I could be wrong), so the first recipients of the artificial ligament have not yet reached the break down period. It is currently unknown what will happen after this time, though it is hoped that the re-grown natural ligaments will be strong enough after 10 years to cope without the support of the artificial ligament.