How is RGIII?

[TD_washingtonredskins]

LL ‏@HTTR24_7
@mikemp71 was explained to me as.. fixing a radiator hose with the belt off you r pants. 09 was a quick fixed aimed at a fast recovery.

It's interesting what we hearing about the fix to his ACL done in 2009. If you think about it, he wasn't on the national scene then and was probably only really worried about not losing out on competing in college. Had it happened once his name started coming up in regards to the first round of the NFL draft, etc. they probably would have gone in a different direction to protect his career more.

[cphil006]

If he did all this on a "ready to pop at any moment" ACL, what is he going to be like after Dr Andrews fixed him up?

Good god, Man

Thats crazy! Maybe he can look at this as a blessing in disguise. Better to injure LCL now and fix ACL while in there rather than have the shoddy 2009 surgery give way early next season.

That doesn't sound so bad now that I think about it?

[Sekhmet187]

Yeah apparently the issue with people who retear their ACL's is just about whether or not the body accepted and strengthened the grafted piece. The fact that RGIII's didn't retear completely, I assume anyways, is a good sign that the graft is successfully integrated and he should be able to recover considering the one he was playing on wasn't in good shape. the LCL not needing a complete reconstruction is also a good sign because again, it means his knee wasn't really in as bad a shape as it could have been the way it looked. He still will have a long rehab time, but assuming RGIII trains hard and doesn't have a setback or rush back, it sounds like he can attain his form again.

Definitely a lot more hopeful. If his ACL was completely torn it would have signaled that his knees aren't strengthening and I would assume any new graft would have the same risks. Obviously since he DID tear it somewhat, he still has risks, but it certainly sounds better than worrying if his knees will give out at any moment.

[TheDane]

I wonder what he did for repair exactly? Fuse the town piece together somehow? interested in knowing the difference. I guess I could google, but that requires work.

"Direct repair of the LCL" more than likely means that Andrews was able to do one of two things:

1. Reattach the existing ligament to the tibia or femur, if the tear occurred distally or proximally
2. Sewed the ligament back together, in the event of a mid-ligament tear

Again, because the fibular collateral ligament portion of the LCL is different from the cruciate ligaments, a doctor is able to "repair" the LCL. It is exceedingly unlikely to "repair" an ACL, in the sense of fixing a tear and keeping the existing ligament.

---------- Post added January-9th-2013 at 04:26 PM ----------

Are you a doctor? Not being snarky; honestly curious since you seem to know a decent amount about this stuff.

A practicing radiologist with musculoskeletal expertise (or two radiologists, if the response is unclear) is/are responsible for these posts, which explains why these responses are much nicer than my usual responses. So I guess the answer is no and yes?

[Metaldrumz]

Amusing thread. All I wanna add is best of luck to RG3 for a very successful and speedy recovery. Do not rush yourself and come back when you are 110%. Anything less is inexcusable.

Ok back to your up to the minute armchair Doctors.

[cphil006]

And a guy with a SKINS Super Bowl Ring performed the 1st surgery? WTF!

How did you find out? I've been searching google and cannot find who did the 2009 surgery.

[cphil006]

"Direct repair of the LCL" more than likely means that Andrews was able to do one of two things:

1. Reattach the existing ligament to the tibia or femur, if the tear occurred distally or proximally
2. Sewed the ligament back together, in the event of a mid-ligament tear

Again, because the fibular collateral ligament portion of the LCL is different from the cruciate ligaments, a doctor is able to "repair" the LCL. It is exceedingly unlikely to "repair" an ACL, in the sense of fixing a tear and keeping the existing ligament.

---------- Post added January-9th-2013 at 04:26 PM ----------



A practicing radiologist with musculoskeletal expertise (or two radiologists, if the response is unclear) is/are responsible for these posts, which explains why these responses are much nicer than my usual responses. So I guess the answer is no and yes?

How does the ligament get reattached to the tibia/femur? what makes it stick?

[TheDane]

How does the ligament get reattached to the tibia/femur? what makes it stick?

or possibly sutures.

[cphil006]

http://www.orthopaedics-implants.com...les_ushape.jpg

or possibly sutures.

ouch. do these stay in forever? I wonder the details of Dr. Andrews surgery on RG3. It'd be facinating to learn which ones he used an how/why exactly he did that. Perhaps he'll write about it in his next medical journal?

[Sekhmet187]

Basically, we won't know for sure, but theres a least good reason to be hopeful of a complete recovery (as in him returning to the way he was before his injury) and what Dr. Andrews released isn't just smoke and mirrors. The timetable however is completely subjective. He could be superman and ready for pre-season or he could be a bit slower and not ready til Thanksgiving or Christmas (at which point the team might just shelve him til 2014).

Either way, at the very least I think its ok to at least put away thoughts of "career ending" or "never be the same". Just my opinion but hey.

[skinsfansince1988]

It's interesting what we hearing about the fix to his ACL done in 2009. If you think about it, he wasn't on the national scene then and was probably only really worried about not losing out on competing in college. Had it happened once his name started coming up in regards to the first round of the NFL draft, etc. they probably would have gone in a different direction to protect his career more.

well maybe this was a good thing, doesn't sound like his ACL repair was all that good. I hope people let Rg3 rehab in peace, put no expectations or useless opinions on him and then come Training Camp, see where he is at, but let him rehab in peace, that is my wish for him

[TheDane]

ouch. do these stay in forever? I wonder the details of Dr. Andrews surgery on RG3. It'd be facinating to learn which ones he used an how/why exactly he did that. Perhaps he'll write about it in his next medical journal?

Forever. That's why they're made of adamantium.

No idea if we'll ever know the details. Can't imagine we will, but I don't know what was agreed upon before surgery.

Kidding about the adamantium. But not about the forever.

[ZRagone]

Wow, sounds like the crazy notion I was feeling earlier....that Andrews upon reviewing the MRI's and having a look felt that the 2009 graft was simply not done in a way that was most conducive to RG3 remaining healthy and at peak condition for a long period of time and thus wanted to redo the repair the way he would've done it...actually is adding up. Which coudl've been where the whole misguided notion of a "previous" unannounced ACL came from. Upon looking at the MRI's for the original injury, Andrews may've noticed that there was questionable work done on the original ACL reconstruction and was unsure how it'd hold up. But, until the point where the LCL NEEDED surgery, there was little reason to open him up and check for the hell of it.

[DCranon21]

Baseball Coach ...no way, I know the right person.

http://atthebox.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/zorn11.jpg

Oh man, you just brought back a nightmare I got over. Why gortiz.

But looking at the aftermath tweets, and seeing that an amateur fixed his knee the 1st time, and it was about to give makes me feel better the professionals came in and cleaned it up.

[Sekhmet187]

Forever. That's why they're made of adamantium.

No idea if we'll ever know the details. Can't imagine we will, but I don't know what was agreed upon before surgery.

Kidding about the adamantium. But not about the forever.

My guess is the only details we'll get from now on are updates on his progress from team doctors in statements during mini camp and beyond, and from RGIII himself and what he chooses to divulge to us.