I was glad that Dr. Kelly was still there, per his message. He was generous with his time and told me that his primary concern about performing autografts using the patella tendon was arthritis. His preference (as with many other surgeons) is to use age 35 as a cutoff point for which to make a decision to use the allograft. He said that if he were in my shoes, he would definitely go with the allograft, now that he has had more experience as not only a doctor, but also as a patient at a later age.

In addition, he feels that the allograft rate of success and satisfaction has greatly improved. In fact, I was surprised by the same sentiment being echoed by a patient of the well known Steadman Clinic (of Kobe Bryant fame as well) on Bob’s Knee Board, a well known resource. I had gotten into a little discussion with him about his twenty-something knee (young ‘un) being reconstructed with an allo achilles graft. Wouldn’t you know it, he was right—the achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the body. Apparently the rates of satisfaction and success are much higher these days—and for the past two years—with the allografts.

So… what would you choose? My ability to hopefully return to small pond big playground superstar success with potential for serious chronic knee pain? How about the choice behind curtain number two, return to small pond potentially as a big playground superstar or at worst as a mortal with much higher risk of not having serious, chronic knee pain and scarring in your patella tendon. Yup… as much as I am hoping that the New York Rangers are still interested in my hockey talent and the rumors of my rare softball skill, power and speed are still active, I have chosen curtain number 2.

Well… at least for now. Wait til’ my fickle mind, feeble with weary anticipation really starts to kick into gear tomorrow…