How is RGIII?

[longball]

I won't comment on the recovery time for a second ACL reconstruction as compared to a first reconstruction as I don't know. What I do know is that the way his leg buckled going after the loose ball is indicative of an ACL injury. The angle at which his knee "gave way" is nearly identical to the trauma that tore my ACL. I needed complete ACL reconstruction, and I chose an allograft - tissue (tendon) from a cadaver. RG and all high-level athletes almost always use an autograft which would be tissue (tendon) taken from his own body. RG probably already used the middle third of his patellar tendon (of the same knee) in his first ACL reconstruction. If that is the case then he will need to get an autograft from another part of his body such as a hamstring tendon. There is debate as to which one is better. Both are EXCELLENT and BETTER than any allograft. Additionally, the good news about an autograft vs an allograft is that it is a shorter recovery time b/c it incorporates into the body sooner. After all, it's not a foreign "part" being introduced into the body as an allograft from a cadaver is.

There's speculation in this post, but I am preparing myself to learn that his ACL will also be reconstructed along with his LCL - and am preparing for that length of recovery time and not the shorter LCL length. .

Some of what you say is very accurate. However I would add an ACL does not regain nerve ending so the idea of a graft taking or regaining is inaccurate. It is strictly a replacement to a failed mechanical structure within the joint structure. An allograft today is very strong and can provide excellent strength, also since it does not require harvesting it could be argued that it the recovery would be quicker. Looking at the autograft route, since he tore it when he was younger(college) they already did an autograft either patellar or hamstring. So now he has only one option if he goes this route. Patellar tendon requires taking part of the knee cap, and is the gold standard, it can be associated with longer recovery and anterior knee pain(AP had this done by Andrews so that says something). This is the stronger of the two options, so him having just one option changes the dynamic and makes an allograft potentially more viable. An autograft hamstring is where they strip one of your hamstring tendons.
When Andrews goes into repair the LCL, he'll check the laxity and see if there is any fraying/tears on the ACL. Most likely it'll be debrided and reconstructed, the LCL will heal before the ACL. Just hope this quads and muscle recover after the surgery. He has the best sports med doc in the world.

[emor09]

Imagine: RG3 sits out the season, Cousins throws 3500 yards 23 TDs 10 INTs en route to NFC East crown. CONTROVERSY!

[UCFSkins14s]

That's never, ever the case, regardless of what they say. An injury can happen at any time to a football player. The question should have been does playing with the LCL sprain increase the likelihood of a more serious injury, and the outcome would indicate yes, but that may not be the right answer.

Well from what I have read is that when an LCL tears it is really rare for it to tear by itself. If he was playing on a damaged LCL, then I'm sure the likely hood of it getting torn even worse would go up meaning the likelihood of other ligaments being damaged goes up. So I guess what they were feeding us was a load of ****.

[pointyfootball]

For you and me, it's a year. For athletes who make it a full-time commitment, it's can be as low as 7-9 months.

I think 7-9 for both ligament reconstruction for repeat injury would surpass even AP's "miracle" recovery, IMO.

Curious as to if there was any meniscus and/or cartilage damage.

[BurgGold75]

I agree. I also don't want him rushed back so if has to sit out a year than it is what it is. I'm patient.

uggghh...this reality is sinking in and it sucks

[pointyfootball]

So I guess what they were feeding us was a load of ****.

I treat nfl coaches like most women treat what men tell them at a bar.

[DraftChrisLong]

Plane scheduled to leave Long Beach for DC at 12amET (9pm PT)

[zskins]

Can the dude at least go under the knife first before we speculate when he comes back?

Nah, we will never reach to 10,000+ posts in this thread if we did that.

[MrJL]

Crazy Talk.

RG3 isn't playing a game next year. He will be out for the season.

I don't know. Seems like it's been a long time since an NFL player has missed an entire year with an ACL that didn't happen in the preseason or around that time

[Special K]

Anyone on here know what is the standard recovery time from an ACL and LCL reconstruction?

Who is saying there is a "reconstruction" needed for an LCL? Typically, and entire "reconstruction" is not needed for an LCL.

Also, the orthopedic surgeon knee specialist for the US wrestling team (who performed 3 ACL - hamstring, cadaver and patellar - reconstructions on my ex-husband's knees - and I forget what other tendons were involved in each of the surgeries, but the final, careeer-ending one was the O'Donoghue's triad - ACL, MCL, and meniscus) never put my husband on a 9-12 month recovery timeframe back to full-time wrestling in national and international tournaments. While wrestling is not football, it is a notoriously horrendous sport for men's knees and my husband was usually back on the mat full-time within 7-8 months.

Take that for what it's worth (probably not much, lol) but time frames being assigned to this injury, without knowing specificities of the injury, are way premature.

[LaxinFish29]

LL ‏@HTTR24_7
What we know , Torn LCL.. Damage to ACL yet to be determined. Pump the breaks on " ACL is ok" ..

---------- Post added January-8th-2013 at 09:03 PM ----------

LL ‏@HTTR24_7
Valid question RT @NC_Skins23: @HTTR24_7 Do you think they'll actually be honest about the injury? Unlike how they were with Garcon?[COLOR="Gold"]

From this, its lcl and possible acl....why is it the last few pages of this thread are covered with, "he will be out a while, part of next year, all of next year, get used to cousins, etc?"

[Murphs56]

I don't even care if he plays next year. I'm past the point of being selfish...As the game progressed Sunday, I cared more about his health for the future than the final score of the playoff game

[Painkiller]

[/COLOR]John Mara just called an emergency competition committee review. He's pissed at RG3's resilience.

RG3 "violated the spirit" of a knee injury. ...he was warned repeatedly not to do that, and he will be "lucky" if he isn't forced to sit for 2013.

[Ingtar]

David Elfin ‏@davidelfin
I'm hearing MRI didn't show ACL tear 4 @RGIII so fingers crossed Wed scope will only show further damage to LCL which would be major relief.

[TheDane]

Well from what I have read is that when an LCL tears it is really rare for it to tear by itself. If he was playing on a damaged LCL, then I'm sure the likely hood of it getting torn even worse would go up meaning the likelihood of other ligaments being damaged goes up. So I guess what they were feeding us was a load of ****.

This is sometimes true. This is sometimes not true. You can most certainly tear the LCL by itself. The more severe the tear, the more likely it is to have accompanying cruciate ligament damage. Likely, but not certain. Any other doctor will corroborate this.

Bottom line, LL is right. Pump the breaks. We know two things:

1. Robert is having surgery
2. He is having surgery tomorrow

Unfortunately we just cannot armchair-diagnose. I would wager Andrews does not know yet, either.