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Choosing a good surgeon & hospital for ACL reconstruction

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi,

I injured a knee two seasons ago. My ACL is only partly intact and stretched beyond doing its job. 1/3 of meniscus was folded over on the right hand side and could not be unfolded successfully so was removed.

I've given up karate and don't risk running around the football pitch with my boys and the village 'fun' team. I will play table tennis with my boys but am constantly aware of the instability in my knee and the possibility it might give way. I would't attempt to play badminton. I have skied with a brace (& even done some boarding) but am constantly aware of the instability in my knee.

I recently met a couple people who have undergone ACL reconstruction and while their rehab was long and tough, they have completely returned to their previous sports.

I can't imagine that I'd ever take up karate again, but I would like to be able to ski/board with confidence, kick a ball around with the kids, run for a bus etc.

I have private medical and am now considering ACL reconstruction.

I've done a little research online and seen comments about finding a surgeon who specialises in ACL reconstruction, rather than a general orthopaedic surgeon.

Can anyone offer any advice about how I choose a hospital & surgeon to be referred to ?

Thanks & regards,

Ian
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
PS - I'm based in Northamptonshire but would travel, if necessary, to find a hospital & surgeon specialising in ACL reconstruction.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Jonathon Bell on here is vey highly regarded and has Provided me with fantastic advice.

I have had three knee ops (one was an ACL reconstruction) the surgeon who carried the ACL-R was the best out of all of them and is based in reading. His name is Mr O'Leary.
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His details are

http://www.circlehealth.co.uk/consultants/sean-oleary
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I would suggest giving the physio team at Northampton Saints a call - 01604 751543 - and ask for Matt Lee. ACLs are one of their areas of speciality (as well as shoulder, neck etc.) The top guy consultant in sport in the UK is considered to be Andy Williams at Fortius Clnic in London, but he is very busy, probably exceeds your insurance level and is about getting you back to playing for your country. There are many others that are very good including the Parkside Wimbledon teams and of which Jonathon Bell is a frequent contributor to this site. But, going back to my original pint, if the Saints trust their players to someone, they'll be top notch. Also, they will take a no nonsense, get you back to a high level approach that is for obvious reasons not the main focus of the NHS.

Good luck with the reconstruction and let us know how you do. Populating this site with feedback is a great source for others treading the same path.
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Intensive physio for some time before and after the op seems a key component of a good outcome. I like the idea of surgeons and physios working as a team, as they do at the Wimbledon Clinic.
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Can't offer advice on choosing a hospital / surgeon in the UK, but I can entirely agree that it's possible to return to full sports after an ACL reconstruction, and that doing the rehab properly will help a lot.

I only did two years of karate many moons ago but I would not hesitate trying it again after my ACL was reconstructed four years ago. I ski, play tennis without problems. Hardly ever a twinge of pain.

Good luck!
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Thank you all for your advice. I got a referral from my GP this morning and AXA-PPP are going to try to find me a local surgeon on their books who specialises in knees.

I've also dropped an email to Matt Lee at the Saints to see if he is able to offer any advice.

If anyone else has any further advice or can share their experiences I would really appreciate it.

Regards, Ian
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piddi I cannot recommend Jonathan Bell highly enough. He reconstructed my ACL last April, 8 years after the initial injury & with an increasing instability that was seriousy interfering with life. I have not looked back since & have been skiing with no problems this season. Best of luck with it. You will find lots of helpful ACL stuff here - a lot of it from Jonathan Bell himself

http://www.wimbledonclinics.co.uk/consultants/mr-jonathan-bell/
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I had my ACL reconstructed by ian fyfe at northwick park hospital. He did a fantastic job and is a joy to talk to about skiing and diving.
I had the surgery just over 4 years ago. It took many months of physio before i could ski again.
He has done such a good job that i ski harder now than i did before the injury.
http://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/consultant/consultantdetails?p_name=Ian-Fyfe&p_id=41117
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Professor Justin Cobb repaired my daughter' ACL last year. He works out of The London Clinic and did a fantastic job.
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I have just got back from perfect Breckenridge with a snapped ACL... gutted. I did the same 10 years ago and the op was carried out by Mr Shaw in Preston, Lancashire but I now live on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border any recommendations? I have BUPA cover (thankfully) ...
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@powderprincesss, jonathan bell at wimbledon clinic if you can travel that far (sorry to hear)
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Jonathan Webb in Brizzle?
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
+1 for Jonathan Webb in Bristol - he did my ACL recon 5 years ago. Did a great job.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@powderprincesss, second Jon Webb in Bristol, absolutely first-class. Working in several private hospitals in and around Brizzle. As a former professional sportsman he has the right attitude to sports injuries, unlike a couple of the consultants that trained him. Helped me to fight back against negativity even though he was just a Houseman to my consultant back in the early 1990s and got me back on the slopes in double quick time too.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:

+1 for Jonathan Webb in Bristol - he did my ACL recon 5 years ago. Did a great job.

+3 for J.W Toofy Grin He did mine in 2008 - have skid 150 days since (blimey!) without noticing a thing. Brilliant!!!
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
piddi wrote:


I recently met a couple people who have undergone ACL reconstruction and while their rehab was long and tough, they have completely returned to their previous sports.

I can't imagine that I'd ever take up karate again, but I would like to be able to ski/board with confidence, kick a ball around with the kids, run for a bus etc.

Ian


I can't help with recommendations of a surgeon in the UK (other than to echo the fact that snowHead Jonathan Bell has been fantastically helpful on here and also has some very happy snowHead patients).

But just wanted to say, to be honest, I was very lazy with the rehab physio - I just found it too boring and in fact my surgeon also told me to lay off it completely for a couple of months Shocked so as not to overstretch the new ligament (never met anyone else who had that advice).

The 6-month recovery process seemed quite long in some ways because it was boring as I live in the mountains and was only allowed to walk or cycle on the flat rolling eyes So I didn't really do any exercise but I do run a chalet so was at least active in my job rather than sitting at a desk all day. But I had the all clear from the surgeon to do everything 6 months post op and after that it was all psychological (it was a skiing injury so was nervous that first ski season but it really was all in the mind).

Can honestly say it's as if it never happened now - I honestly forget about it until the subject comes up in conversation. I hiked the Haute Route this year (2 weeks from Chamonix to Zermatt) and was the only person we met along the way - including my hiking partner who's very sporty and a couple of years younger than me - who had absolutely no knee issues at all after 1500m+ descents. Of course I should say now that I had no meniscus issues at all and it was a clean snap of the ACL with no other ligaments involved, so I don't know how your meniscus removal affects things... but just wanted to say that it doesn't have to be as bleak as it can seem at this stage of the process even if you do have to put the effort in with rehab physio.
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My ACL was repaired by Mr Paul Gibb in Tunbridge Wells. An excellent job done!
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Samerberg Sue wrote:
As a former professional sportsman.


Technically, not quite. Webby retired in 1993, union officially went pro in 1995. wink
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@Mollerski, he was as professional as things allowed back then! And an amazing player wink
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Thanks everyone. Jonathan Webb in Bristol has come up a couple of times. Ill go and see him asap. Happy Skiing everyone whos sound enough!!!
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
...


Last edited by After all it is free Go on u know u want to! on Sun 7-02-16 12:36; edited 1 time in total
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@powderprincesss, http://yorkshirekneeclinic.com/
Nick London, he's the best.
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Samerberg Sue wrote:
@Mollerski, he was as professional as things allowed back then! And an amazing player wink


Yeah, it was all a little 'fuzzy' around that period. Madeye-Smiley
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