It's amazing that all of this medical advise, coach/parent/player/doctor condemnation is being based on what someone heard on the radio or read in the newspaper. I was not involved in the conversations, therefore, I don't think that I nor anyone else is in a position to question what went on. The bottom line is that all of this thread is supposition aand IMO serves no useful purpose..I'm out

While I do not agree with the decision that the young lady, parents, coach and doctor made in this situation, I can certainly understand that at the young age of 14 or 15 that playing in the state tournament is something that anyone would want to do. At times we tell kids to seize the day, but then chastise them for wanting to do the same.

 

If it were my daughter, I would tend to err toward caution, but it would certainly tear me apart to have to tell my precious daughter that she cannot play.

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.

 

Didn't you know that they added it in after you got out of school. It was there for my gross anatomy labs. :lol:

 

All kidding aside, it is possible to play without an ACL, but that requires resconstructive surgery. It is possible to play with a partial tear, but again that is seriously painful and if anyone has seen "Friday Night Lights" knows how dangerous it can be. I find it hard to believe that anyone could play with a completely torn ACL since it is required to keep the keep from hyperextending and the tibia from being pulled anteriorly even with a brace. And even if that is possible (I am not an orthapedic surgeon...yet) the balance of the knee joint would be dramatically compromised probably to the point of being unable to walk properly. Basically, every time weight is placed on the knee joint, the ACL prevents the tibia from slipping forward. As one pushed off that leg, the ACL keeps the knee from bending the wrong direction. Therefore, to do anything with this kind of injury is dangerous and any physician worth his/her salt wouldn't have allowed her to play. As for tearing an artery, there is no artery that runs in the knee joint itself it is encapsulated. However, the popliteal arteries run behind the knee. This is the main artery supplying the leg below the knee. While I find it very difficult to imagine a situation where the knee could be displaced enough to sever this artery, it is very much possible with an injury that would allow the knee to slide backwards.

It is my understanding that once an injury like this is diagnosed by a doctor that the doctor must give a release for the player to return to action. It is also my understanding that with the brace that they wear that there can be no further injury to the already fully torn ACL. However if additional swelling occurs and cannot be reduced the player can no longer play. I don't believe that Ms. Stevenson played the final two games. However I am by no means a doctor just repeating what I have heard. Would I choose to play as a player, let my child play, or as a coach let my player play? I don't know, I have never been in that position. I really don't think the coaching staff or parents would have let her play if there was a great risk. She has a promising future and let's not forget the most important thing wishing her a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. It seems like there is an epidemic of ACL tears over the last few seasons.

It is possible to play w/ a torn ACL, however, if the meniscus, MCL, PCL, or anything else is blown, its not very advisable. Typically it depends on the severity of the ACL tear along w/ everything else in the knee. The ACL is crucial for some quick movements but isn't always needed for sports. I take it the doctor's advised her to wear a protective brace, and also her minutes were probably cut a bit. My little sister played with an ACL tear in 8th grade for soccer. The doctor's and PT's supported it actually. The greatest risk exists more in possibility of tearing something else so the athlete is usually advised to notify the coach early if they feel discomfort.

 

The leg shouldn't fall off by the way just cause the ACL is gone. Many more ligaments exist within that area. The MCL and PCL are quit crucial. You also have the patellar ligament/quad ligament going over the patella and inserting onto your tibia. Plus there exists many upper thigh muscles which insert onto the tibia and fibula. The typical brace worn for this is also very protective and you will find many linemen in football have one on each knee.

 

Im not fully accurate on all this perhaps, but I have studied the knee complex a bit the past two years as well as known a few kids w/ ACL tears and im pretty close.

 

Todd was doing a pretty normal thing here. If the doctor says its okay, he can oblige and play her.

Any thing else you want to comment of wrong doing about Lexcath Snappy?:confused:

 

 

 

It is possible to play w/ a torn ACL, however, if the meniscus, MCL, PCL, or anything else is blown, its not very advisable. Typically it depends on the severity of the ACL tear along w/ everything else in the knee. The ACL is crucial for some quick movements but isn't always needed for sports. I take it the doctor's advised her to wear a protective brace, and also her minutes were probably cut a bit. My little sister played with an ACL tear in 8th grade for soccer. The doctor's and PT's supported it actually. The greatest risk exists more in possibility of tearing something else so the athlete is usually advised to notify the coach early if they feel discomfort.

 

The leg shouldn't fall off by the way just cause the ACL is gone. Many more ligaments exist within that area. The MCL and PCL are quit crucial. You also have the patellar ligament/quad ligament going over the patella and inserting onto your tibia. Plus there exists many upper thigh muscles which insert onto the tibia and fibula. The typical brace worn for this is also very protective and you will find many linemen in football have one on each knee.

 

Im not fully accurate on all this perhaps, but I have studied the knee complex a bit the past two years as well as known a few kids w/ ACL tears and im pretty close.

 

Todd was doing a pretty normal thing here. If the doctor says its okay, he can oblige and play her.

Any thing else you want to comment of wrong doing about Lexcath Snappy?:confused:

 

 

Haha, I don't know if quoting me is always great, Im basically about to be a senior PT student at Saint Louis University and my biggest knowledge comes from kinesiology class and Gross Anatomy where I was able to get an up close and personal view of the actual knee. That added with a little sister who had three acl surgeries, two on the left one on the right, and knowing some friends with the surgery I have a decent knowledge. I do agree that this thread had the image of being just another reason to whine about Lex Cath.

It seems like there is an epidemic of ACL tears over the last few seasons.

 

Research I've seen points to females wider hips which change the angle/stress on their knees resulting in these serious injuries.

 

Also, keep in mind that as girls participate in sports in increasing numbers it naturally follows that there will be more injuries.

 

Perhaps someone more up to date/more closely involved can give more detailed info re; the knees.

 

Cheers, Woody Jr

Hines Ward plays football without an ACL.

 

Not disputing what you say could happen, just saying there are instances out there of competitors playing without the benefit of the ACL. I believe former Buffalo Bills Running Back Thurman Thomas also played with a torn or missing ACL.

Yes TBF but Thurman Thomas was an adult, professional football player. this kid is/was a freshman in high school. I cannot believe that a coach and especially any parent would allow this girl to play. Freshman, what is that 14 or 15 years old? I blame the parents MORE than I blame the coach and I blame the coach plenty. I have coached youth sports in the past and cannot imagine letting a kid play with the potential of what an injury like that could do. Having to sit the tourney out I am sure would get to a kid, they are competitors and want to play no matter what. Adults have to step in on this. After all, this is a freshman in h.s. - three more years of basketball ahead of her and longer if she is college material. Rehab the knee and have a productive h.s. carrer and maybe longer instead of risking what could possibly happen, if there is even a chance of permanent injury she doesn't play (IMO)

Yes TBF but Thurman Thomas was an adult, professional football player. this kid is/was a freshman in high school. I cannot believe that a coach and especially any parent would allow this girl to play. Freshman, what is that 14 or 15 years old? I blame the parents MORE than I blame the coach and I blame the coach plenty. I have coached youth sports in the past and cannot imagine letting a kid play with the potential of what an injury like that could do. Having to sit the tourney out I am sure would get to a kid, they are competitors and want to play no matter what. Adults have to step in on this. After all, this is a freshman in h.s. - three more years of basketball ahead of her and longer if she is college material. Rehab the knee and have a productive h.s. carrer and maybe longer instead of risking what could possibly happen, if there is even a chance of permanent injury she doesn't play (IMO)

 

 

Well said oldrambler:thumb:

I do agree that this thread had the image of being just another reason to whine about Lex Cath.

 

 

I could careless about LC...

I care about the fact that no adult stood up and told this kid no!

I could careless about LC...

I care about the fact that no adult stood up and told this kid no!

 

Im not after you TD, lower the guns, you didn't start this thread. And im being honest when I say many doctors do allow kids to play after an ACL tear if they deem the risk of worse injury to be small and the right precautions are taken. Is it right or wrong? I don't know, im sure some people have hurt themselves before but I haven't seen numbers on it. If I remember, I'll ask my advisor, he is an athletic trainer and sports physical therapist who deals w/ situations like this.

 

(By the way, im just stating reasons why the girl could play, i'd have to know the case, severity of the injury, etc etc to even give an opinion on right or wrong. As i said before my little sis the second time she tore her ACL, was allowed to finish her soccer season out before having surgery and it did make me a little uncomfortable.)

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".

Yeah, my thoughts exactly..........get over it people!

Im not after you TD, lower the guns, you didn't start this thread. And im being honest when I say many doctors do allow kids to play after an ACL tear if they deem the risk of worse injury to be small and the right precautions are taken. Is it right or wrong? I don't know, im sure some people have hurt themselves before but I haven't seen numbers on it. If I remember, I'll ask my advisor, he is an athletic trainer and sports physical therapist who deals w/ situations like this.

 

(By the way, im just stating reasons why the girl could play, i'd have to know the case, severity of the injury, etc etc to even give an opinion on right or wrong. As i said before my little sis the second time she tore her ACL, was allowed to finish her soccer season out before having surgery and it did make me a little uncomfortable.)

 

Not directing at you...just stating my opinion as a parent :thumb:

Bottom line ... none of us know the details of the girl's injury. It's the doctor's prerogative to shut her down or allow her to make a decision whether or not to play. I assume that the doctor, knowing all the particulars of her injury and the risk of further damage, laid out the possibilities to the girl and her family and gave them a choice.