Have you torn your ACL?

Recover faster with all-arthroscopic ACL reconstruction

“We see a lot of knee injuries, especially in football and soccer players,” says Daniel Zanotti, MD, who is fellowship-trained in sports medicine and arthroscopy.

“At the Center for Orthopedics, we're pushing the envelope with a brand-new all-arthroscopic ACL reconstruction procedure being performed by only a few U.S. orthopedic surgeons.”

What advantages does all-arthroscopic ACL reconstruction offer?

• Band-Aid incisions
• Less pain and swelling
• Quicker progression in rehab

All-arthroscopic ACL reconstruction minimizes pain and swelling

“With this minimally invasive ACL surgery, most of the pain and swelling subsides after 4-6 weeks, vs. 3-4 months for traditional open or partial-arthroscopic ACL replacement,” Dr. Zanotti explains.

Donated tendon tissue eases recovery

“Traditionally, ACL reconstruction was done using the patient's own tendon tissue,” says Dr. Zanotti. “Orthopedic surgeons have recently started using allograft or donor tendon tissue.

“We've tried to eliminate any incisions for harvesting grafts or even for inserting them—doing everything arthroscopically through a few tiny holes,” he explains.

Complete healing still takes 6 months

“Although you can expect to have less pain and start rehab sooner after all-arthroscopic ACL replacement, it still takes six months before you can return to your full normal activities,” Dr. Zanotti advises. “The body needs that time to incorporate the new tissue and fully heal the ACL.”

Patient success story: Wrestling Coach Dennis Balogh

Broadview Hts., Ohio wrestling coach Dennis Balogh is ready for the new season—complete with a new ACL—after undergoing all-arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Balogh, 34, still remembers the moment last spring when he tore the ACL in his left knee. “I was training kids, doing extra workouts at a club in Brecksville, Ohio,” he says. “When I was wrestling full-go with one of the 189-pounders, he took his shot and my left foot got caught in the mat. I heard a loud ‘pop’ and then felt a lot of pain.

“I didn't believe it, so I continued pushing the issue a little bit,” Balogh admits. “I continued wrestling, but I felt some instability and my leg started giving out.

“I'd heard of Dr. Dan Zanotti—he'd operated on the elbows of a kid who's competing for University School. His dad suggested I schedule an appointment with Dr. Zanotti.”

‘Your ACL is gone’

“When I saw Dr. Zanotti, I said, ‘I think I've torn the cartilage in my knee,’” Balogh recalls. “He tested my leg and told me, ‘Your ACL is gone.’ He knew it immediately—and an MRI confirmed that I'd completely torn my ACL.

“Dr. Zanotti was tremendous,” says Balogh. “After I got over the initial ‘Son of a gun!’ he was able to prepare me for surgery. He explained that he was going to do the procedure 100% arthroscopically and use donated ligament tissue.”

“The alternative was to take tissue from the patellar tendon or hamstring tendons, and graft it in place, which would mean a separate incision and a more complicated recovery,” Dr. Zanotti explains.

‘I shed my crutches in less than 2 weeks’

Balogh had all-arthroscopic ACL replacement on April 23 and progressed rapidly. “A day out of surgery, the physical therapists were moving my leg,” he recalls. “They were pretty aggressive and confident in what they were doing to start motion immediately.

“The physical therapists encouraged me to try to flex my leg and slide it up and down the table, to initiate motion so I wouldn't end up with scar tissue,” says Balogh. “It went tremendously.

“I shed the crutches in less than two weeks,” says Balogh. “I'd have one crutch with me as a precaution. The physical therapists really wanted me to have a brace and crutches—and I was careful—but the sooner I got rid of those crutches, the better I felt.”

‘The physical therapists were excellent’

“The physical therapists at the Center for Orthopedics didn't just start me on an exercise and walk away—I got individual attention,” Balogh recalls. “They're staffed well, and they really focused on taking care of me.”

‘This all-arthroscopic ACL procedure was pretty awesome’

“I compared my post-surgery experience to what a couple of my college buddies went through in the '90s when they blew their knees out,” says Balogh. “They were talking to me, asking how it was going after my surgery, and there was no comparison as far as my recovery and the pain subsiding.

“They just kept saying, ‘I can't believe you're doing this!’ and ‘I can't believe you're doing that!’ And I said, ‘Well, the procedure has changed.’ That was pretty impressive to me.”

‘I've got no patience to be sitting around’

Balogh has been wrestling since he was 11 and coaching since 1998. “It's a hands-on sport,” he acknowledges. “The injury was devastating, but that same injury could happen playing softball. People have blown out their ACLs slipping on the ice.

“A lot of people's reaction to my injury was, ‘Well, you shouldn't have been wrestling at age 34.’ First of all, I was in condition to do it. My foot got caught—and that could happen turning around second base playing softball.

“At the Center for Orthopedics, they got me back quickly. I'll be ready for wrestling this year,” says Balogh. “They encourage activity; they know people are active. You could sit around and worry about getting injured, or you could do what you love.”

Is all-arthroscopic ACL replacement right for you?

Request a consultation

This information is simply an introduction to all-arthroscopic ACL replacement. To find out if this is an appropriate choice for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Daniel Zanotti or another one of our board-certified orthopedic surgeons.

Call 440.329.2800 for an appointment