As a freshman at Lebanon High School last year, Jessica Lehmkuhler was the #2 singles tennis player and a member of the soccer team. The 15-year-old expected to be a starter on her high school soccer team this year, and had recently made the travel team at Zionsville Youth Soccer Association.
Then Jessica was sidelined by an ACL tear. During the second soccer game of the high school season, Jessica tore her left ACL when she turned to make a pass, and the defender ran into her. “Jessica was devastated to know it was an ACL tear,” says her father, Jon Lehmkuhler. “She’s worked so hard.”
The Best Treatment
The local sports medicine physician who saw Jessica initially provided a list of surgeons. But Jon wanted to ensure that his daughter saw the best knee surgeon available. He talked to people in their hometown, Lebanon, Ind., who have had knee surgery, and did research online.
Then Jon called his cousin, Denise Bawel, who’s been working with Orthopedic Surgeon K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, since 1982. Jon had heard of Dr. Shelbourne, who has performed more than 7,000 ACL surgeries and developed a proven process to help athletes heal and return to sport faster.
“I was assuming given Dr. Shelbourne’s reputation, he was pretty much booked solid,” says Jon. “Denise told me he had openings and we could get in.”
Persuasive Research Data
A few days later, Jessica and her parents (Jon and Danielle) met with Dr. Shelbourne and one of his physical therapists. “I really liked hearing that Dr. Shelbourne does so much with research. I’m a chemist so when I hear people talking about data, it sticks with me,” says Jon.
Dr. Shelbourne has been tracking patient outcomes for 36 years, and using research data to improve treatment for ACL tears and other knee problems. Key research-based improvements include:
- Pre-operative rehabilitation (pre-op rehab) to accelerate recovery (1)
- Prevention of post-op swelling and an accelerated ACL rehab protocol (2,3)
- Use of the strongest graft available for ACL reconstruction: contralateral patellar tendon graft. (4)
“We have more outcomes data, experience and research than anyone else,” says Dr. Shelbourne.
A Quicker Return to Sport
The idea of being sidelined for 6-12 months—the amount of time it takes most athletes to return to sport after ACL reconstruction—was a big concern for Jessica. “When she heard Dr. Shelbourne’s group had success getting people back in 4–6 months, she was very happy,” says Jon.
Jessica was also afraid she’d re-injure her ACL, or injure her other ACL. Along with enabling a faster return to sport, the use of a patellar tendon graft also reduces the risk of re-injury and ACL tears on the contralateral knee.“Dr. Shelbourne really listened to what Jessica wanted and to her concerns,” says Jon. “He was talking about the same things we wanted to happen.”
“What Jessica wants is important to us. Patients have the best outcomes when we work together as a team,” says Dr. Shelbourne.
Clear Expectations
Dr. Shelbourne reconstructed Jessica’s ACL on September 19, 2018. Eight days later, she was back at school.
Knowing what to expect and working with one physical therapist is making recovery easier for Jessica. Dr. Shelbourne and Jessica’s personal physical therapist, Scot Bauman, PT, DPT, explained the entire process from pre-op rehab through return to sport. Doing pre-op rehab helped prepare Jessica physically and mentally for surgery and post-op rehab. Jessica is comfortable with Scot and appreciates his understanding of her situation.
An Optimistic Prognosis
Jessica is optimistic about returning to both soccer and tennis and is fully compliant with her post-op rehab program. “Jessica’s willing to do anything she can to get back fully to soccer and tennis. She realizes the better she sticks with her regimen, the faster she’ll be back,” says Jon. While she’s only 15, Jessica is thinking about studying business and law in college, and playing soccer and/or tennis.
“Having somebody like Dr. Shelbourne, who’s focused on one thing and has a solution he can prove, is very reassuring,” says Jon.
For more information about ACL reconstruction, call 888-FIX-KNEE.
References
- Shelbourne DK. Thirty-five Years of ACL Reconstruction, presentation at Andrews University, February 2018.
- Biggs A, et al. Rehabilitation for patients following ACL reconstruction: A knee symmetry model. North Am J Sports Phys Ther.2009;4:2-12.
- Shelbourne KD, Gray T. Principles of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation. In Prodromos CC (ed), Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science, 2nd edition, Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2017, p444-450.
- Shelbourne KD, Benner RW, Gray T. Results of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Patellar Tendon Autografts: Objective Factors Associated With the Development of Osteoarthritis at 20 to 33 Years After Surgery. Am J Sports Med, 2017 Oct;45(12):2730-2738.