With success stories such as Nick Malceski and David Rodan the LARS synthetic ligament replacement surgery has received a great deal of positive press in 2010. The surgery has apparently led to their return much sooner than the 12 months AFL fans have come to expect after the traditional replacement technique.This study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that, for many, immediate reconstruction may not be necessary. Apparently after two years patients who had undertaken rehab first and given the option of surgery at a later date had similar outcomes to those that underwent immediate surgery (with about 40% taking up the option of the surgery).
I don't have access to the entire article but I've read elsewhere that the study had some obvious flaws in that it is difficult to control for actual activity (and hence knee stress) levels throughout and post rehab, also, translating the specific rehab program used in this study to all rehab programs is a bit of a stretch. (Pun embarrassingly intended)Whilst the success of LARS in elite athletes is convincing it is interesting that for many adults reconstruction may not be necessary at all.
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