This decision to play or not to play should have been made by the physician, parent and coach. Since a diagnosis of a completely torn ACL was made I assume the athelete was seen by a physician. The physician should have released her to play or not released her. The parent should heed the advise of the physician and make the decision for the child. The coach should require something from the physician that clearly defines what activity the athelete can participate in. The name of the school has no bearing IMO. We should not pass judgement on the parents without knowing what they were told about risk of playing with a ALC injury, in fact, there might have not been any risk of further injury.

 

In the olympics a girls competed in the downhill slalom with a torn ACL, she didn't do very well but she did ski.

As I understand it, playing with a partially torn ACL is more dangerous than playing with a fully torn ACL. The possibility always exists to do more damage to the cartlidges tho.

 

 

That is correct, it eventually comes down to the ability of the person to deal with the pain. If it is something he/she can handle so be it.

There was a girl who led her team to the state championship in Illinois about a decade ago ... she tore the ACL in a Christmas tournament and played the rest of the season in a brace because she wanted to win a state championship in her senior year. She was the MVP of the state tournament and went on to play on the Division I level.

 

Pam Bell, Paducah Tilghman's center, played all of the 2005 postseason with a torn ACL and led the Lady Tornado to the final four as a junior. She had surgery the week after the state tournament and will play basketball and throw the discus and shot put at Murray State.

Snappy, are you a physician, or did you just stay at a holiday inn express last night?

Listening to the radio broadcast, the announcers seemed to say that the decision was hers and that the doctors said she could do no further damage by playing but would struggle managing pain. Folks may wonder why in the world she would do that, but who's to say she'll ever get back to the state tourney. I hear there is another team from that region who is pretty good :sssh: so returning may not be such a sure thing. She may look back in that case and say how glad she was that she postponed surgery by a couple of weeks. I had gross anatomy, and for the life of me can't figure out how I overlooked that stinkin' artery.

This would have been my recommendation..

As a PARENT...this kid would not play!

As a friend or other family member...this kid would not play!

As A COACH....this kid would not play!!!!! Can I just ask this question to Coach Todd? If the parents were foolish enough to let this kid play....why on earth would you allow this kid to play...and POTENTIALLY ruin this kid forever as an athlete? :irked:

As a doctor....this kid would not play!

 

 

 

 

This is truly pathetic!!!!!!!

Snappy, are you a physician, or did you just stay at a holiday inn express last night?

Listening to the radio broadcast, the announcers seemed to say that the decision was hers and that the doctors said she could do no further damage by playing but would struggle managing pain. Folks may wonder why in the world she would do that, but who's to say she'll ever get back to the state tourney. I hear there is another team from that region who is pretty good :sssh: so returning may not be such a sure thing. She may look back in that case and say how glad she was that she postponed surgery by a couple of weeks. I had gross anatomy, and for the life of me can't figure out how I overlooked that stinkin' artery.

 

 

She is a child...she shouldn't have been allowed to make the decision.

The odds of LC not getting back to the Sweet 16 is almost laughable.

If the parents say that she can't play, then she doesn't play.

 

If instead they say they prefer that she not play, they are allowing someone else to make the decision for them.

Why don't we just give LexCath the accolades that they deserve rather than continually trying to find fault. They were and are the best team that our state had or has to offer. I'm quite content with the fact that our Rose Hill team finished second because we finished second to the number three team in the country and, far and away, the best team in Kentucky. It is unfortunate that, when a person or a team excels, the "lesser lights" must try to tear them down to the level of the complainers.

 

For the amount of time that Stevenson played I feel sure she was in no real danger. Had the circumstances presented a serious danger to her, she wouldn't have gotten her chance at her "cameo appearance". She played very little. Actually, her participation was only for her to have the opportunity to be on the floor. LexCath certainly didn't need her in order to win. In fact, she did not get into the championship game at all.

 

Those who expend energy finding fault with the Lady Knights would be better served using that energy to work a little harder so that they can someday compete with our state champions. If our girls had to lose, I am pleased that it was to a team of LexCath's caliber and not to a "lesser light".

 

There is no doubt that lecath is one of the best teams of all time. I would question ANY coach, parent, and even dr. that would say that a kid could play without an ACL, given the possibilities of what could happen to that child.

This has nothing to do with who this is, but it is everything about What happened. I saw the first game and she logged in some pretty good minutes. It is my understanding from reading this thread she didn't play much the remainder of the tournament because of the fact she reinjured the knee in the 2nd round game.

Snappy, are you a physician, or did you just stay at a holiday inn express last night?

Listening to the radio broadcast, the announcers seemed to say that the decision was hers and that the doctors said she could do no further damage by playing but would struggle managing pain. Folks may wonder why in the world she would do that, but who's to say she'll ever get back to the state tourney. I hear there is another team from that region who is pretty good :sssh: so returning may not be such a sure thing. She may look back in that case and say how glad she was that she postponed surgery by a couple of weeks. I had gross anatomy, and for the life of me can't figure out how I overlooked that stinkin' artery.

I am no Dr. but I have had a torn ACL and the doctor warned me that if It gave out in the right way while the ACL was absent, that it could potentially tear an artery that runs down my leg and that I could possibly lose my leg, or die from bleeding if I wasn't close to help.

That is what the dr. told me.....if this is true...it is very frightening to take that type of chance. who knows...maybe it isn't true that that is a possibility.

The parents probably should have "stepped up" to the plate, but none of us know all of the facts. Mybe the parents and coaches consulted a doctor or trainer and got the "ok" as long as the young lady felt fine and the leg was wrapped correctly, I don't know. But I am not going to blame a coach or the whole school for what was, in essence, a decision made by the parents and athlete.

We have a rule at our school that a dr. must release an athlete...maybe she had a release..but I can't imagine a dr. taking on that liability.

The ACL main respoinsiblity is for holding the bottom part of your leg in place and keeps it from moving forward (YOUR SHIN BONE). Without this ligament the leg could move forward too much causing a main artery that runs down through the leg to be severed. If this happens that kid would have LOST THE BOTTOM PART OF HER LEG....THAT IS if they got the bleeding stopped befere she DIED!!!!

 

 

Could you tell me exactly what main artery you are referring to? The ACL is contained inside the knee joint and she was wearing a brace.So im lost with this possible situation.:confused:Since the ACL was already damaged there wasnt any more damage she could have done.

I don't know the name of the artery. I have had a torn ACL and the dr.'s warned me on how careful I had to be until I had surgery(and even after). They explained to me how the ACL is connected to the top and bottom bones of my leg down through my knee. This connection helps keep the bottom of your leg from moving too far forward and even totally out of place. If it goes too far out of place that is when it can sever the artery that runs through the leg.

That is why I found it so shocking that they played her.

There was a girl who led her team to the state championship in Illinois about a decade ago ... she tore the ACL in a Christmas tournament and played the rest of the season in a brace because she wanted to win a state championship in her senior year. She was the MVP of the state tournament and went on to play on the Division I level.

 

Pam Bell, Paducah Tilghman's center, played all of the 2005 postseason with a torn ACL and led the Lady Tornado to the final four as a junior. She had surgery the week after the state tournament and will play basketball and throw the discus and shot put at Murray State.

 

These two instances were with mildy, partially torn ACL where there was still support. AND they were braced accordingly. I had a friend who tore his ACL and didn't go to the dr. for 2 years. it was totally gone and the dr. told him he was very lucky that he didn't lose his leg while continuing to play softball. Not to mention when you are compensating for an injury you lose your body's natural balance...which, in turn, increases the chance for injury.

Malik had a high percentage of hurting her good knee by overcompensating on it during the game. .....especially competing at the highest level of the year with the most stakes.

These two instances were with mildy, partially torn ACL where there was still support. AND they were braced accordingly. I had a friend who tore his ACL and didn't go to the dr. for 2 years. it was totally gone and the dr. told him he was very lucky that he didn't lose his leg while continuing to play softball. Not to mention when you are compensating for an injury you lose your body's natural balance...which, in turn, increases the chance for injury.

Malik had a high percentage of hurting her good knee by overcompensating on it during the game. .....especially competing at the highest level of the year with the most stakes.

And you know this ... how?

 

I believe that Bell's ACL was a complete tear ... the doctor told her that she couldn't hurt it any more by finishing the season, but that she would need the surgery once the season was over.

 

As for the girl in Illinois, do you have intimate knowledge of the injury Do you even know the girl I'm talking about? I believe hers was a complete tear as well, but I'm not sure.

And you know this ... how?

 

I believe that Bell's ACL was a complete tear ... the doctor told her that she couldn't hurt it any more by finishing the season, but that she would need the surgery once the season was over.

 

As for the girl in Illinois, do you have intimate knowledge of the injury Do you even know the girl I'm talking about? I believe hers was a complete tear as well, but I'm not sure.

Call UK Sports medicine and ask for a medical release for a player with a torn ACL. I can't believe anyone would even TRY to take up for the decision to put a 14 to 15 year old child in harms way.

Every situation is different. Every injury is different. You're making generalizations about a topic that may not always apply, not to mention attempting to speak authoritatively about injuries of which you know nothing.