My Operation (Part 1)
Tuesday, 9 Sep 08 (2 days after Aviva Ironman 70.3) I checked into Changi General Hospital for elective Anterior Cruciate Ligament re-construction surgery. This is a must-do surgery.
In March 08, I had quite a nasty fall, which severed almost 80% of my ACL (but unknown to me at that time). I found out when, after the mandatory rest of 3 weeks, when I went back to running, my speed slowed down tremendously. From being able to finish 10km in 50 minutes, I was taking like as much as 100 minutes for the 10km! It really came to be a head when I completed the Sundown Marathon in close to 7 hours!!
Anyway, to cut the long story short, I went for all the requsite tests: X-rays, MRI scans. Diagnosis: My ACL graft, which I did in 1994 has torn!! I chose surgery to repair, else that is the end of my triathlon days.
Here are some notes of the surgery. Don't ask me what it means, just copied from the discharge summary.
Left ACL graft tear, -s/p therapeutic left knee arthroscopy, left tibia bone defect autograft
ACL LAX
PCL AND PLC INTACT
PROM = RIGHT (FULL)
SKIN AND BONE QUALITY GOOD
MED AND LAT MENISCI GOOD
PCL INTACT
ACL GRAFT 80% TORN
MFC CARTILAGE GRADE 3 WEAR
TIBIAL MED PLATEUA 15MM DIAMETER POSTERIOR MEDIAL CORNER GRADE 4 WEAR
LFC AND LAT TIB PLATEAU CARTILAGE INTACT
TROCHLEA GRADE 3 WEAR
PATELLA GRADE 1
MED AND LAT GUTTERS NO LOOSE BODIES
Summary: Sounds bad...
Some Pictures of the scars...
Picture of the left waist where the bone for graft was taken
The sewn-up left knee... Long wound shows there the previous screw was removed and bone grafted.
Anyway, its "Part 1" because in Dec 08 I am scheduled to go in for Part 2: The actual ACL re-construction itself.
I am on MC till 24th Sept 2008. Lying at home is not a good option... Missed the hectic school life, and the workouts...
