ACL Reconstruction in Elite Athletes – Which Approach Is Preferred?

 

There are several approaches to ACL reconstruction in elite athletes. These include the LARS procedure, the stand-alone graft, cadaver tissue, and soft tissue allograft. The results of each procedure vary, and the choice is often based on the particular situation. Click Strobe Sport ’s free Strobe Training

LARS procedure

The LARS procedure for ACL reconstruction in elite athletics is an effective treatment for the ailing ACL in elite athletes. This innovative surgery uses a synthetic graft developed by the LARS Company, which has been available for several years. Unfortunately, due to the lack of long-term studies and negative experiences with the last generation of synthetic ligaments, the LARS procedure has not yet been widely used. The LARS procedure is designed to minimize the risks associated with ACL reconstruction.

The LARS procedure was found to be superior to traditional autologous grafts in all but three criteria. It also yielded quicker results. In the LARS study, 85% of patients returned to full sport activity within 6 months, compared to 41% of patients who underwent the 4SHG surgery. The LARS procedure allowed patients to return to non-competitive sports activities after two weeks, and full activity was permitted between three and four months after surgery.

The LARS procedure for ACL reconstruction in elite athletics is an innovative technique that uses a synthetic rope-like structure to replace the ACL. It is proposed to speed up the recovery process and enable athletes to return to competition sooner. However, there are no long-term follow-up studies available on the LARS procedure for ACL reconstruction in elite sports.

Stand-alone graft

A stand-alone graft for ACL repair in elite athletes has proven to be a valuable option for patients with ACL tears and degeneration. This procedure has the advantage of being less invasive, which allows athletes to return to their activities faster. This surgery also minimizes the risk of re-tear and increases the chance of RTS at the pre-injury level.

When choosing a stand-alone graft for ACL repair, it's important to know what the desired results are. Some patients are not good candidates for this procedure. Elite athletes should choose this graft option based on their goals. For example, elite athletes should aim for an outcome that is closer to nine or twelve months than six months.

The benefit of using donor tissue is that the donor site is not painful but using training equipment will out. However, a downside to this option is that it takes a longer time to heal than a patient's own tissue. Moreover, it poses a very small risk of disease transmission, which can cause additional complications.

Cadaver tissue

ACL reconstruction using cadaver tissue in young athletes may lead to a second surgery, according to a recent study. The study was presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. In the United States, about 100,000 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions are performed annually. Of these, approximately 20% use cadaver tissue.

Patellar tendon is a commonly used autograft for ACL reconstruction. This tendon runs from the knee cap to the lower leg bone. In this procedure, irtst the paitents will be tainined with sports equipment  patellar tendon is harvested by making an incision from the bottom of the patella to the top of the tibia. The surgeon then separates the tendon into two parts: the patellar tendon and the bone portion of the tibia. The two ends are then attached to bone plugs on the patella and tibia, which serve as anchors for the new ACL.

This procedure has a number of advantages. It has increased healing and graft success rates. However, there are some drawbacks. The procedure may be too invasive for some patients.

Soft tissue allograft

Soft tissue allografts are made from different tissues, such as patellar tendon or hamstring. The procedure involves harvesting a portion of a patient's tendon located beneath the kneecap, and attaching it to a bone at one end. The central portion of the graft measures about 10 millimeters or half an inch across, and the two ends are joined together by a plug of bone. The graft is then inserted into the knee and anchored with screws and staples.

Compared to hamstring and patellar tendon, allografts have a higher failure rate than the grafts from the patient's own body. A recent multicenter study, called the MOON study, revealed that the failure rate was four times higher than the patient's own tissue. As a result, allografts have fallen out of favor with surgeons. Training with great training equipment will help out.

Nevertheless, the choice of a graft is largely individualized in consultations with the athlete with an ACL defect. The surgeon must weigh the athlete's desire to return to athletic activity against the risk of reinjury and donor-site morbidity.