MAG Surgery-Pros and Cons

[munchkin3]

DS has had a wrist injury that has kept him from serious training for 7 months. We have tried everything, casting, resting, time off, supplements, etc.
Both Ortho, and hand specialist basicaly feel he should change sports.

DS is 13. He very adamantly told both DDad and DMom that there is no way he will quit. His dream is to do it in College. He wants us to consider surgery. (arthroscopic)

I have forced him over the last 7 months to try as many other sports as possible. (without using his wrist) and he has been a good sport about it. He has continued to attend regular gym practice and focused on conditioning and stretching and basic skills. No advanced skills. He still wants gymnastics.

Please give me some pros and cons here.....I see so many post pubescent kids that have had some kind of surgery and some have been 100% successful, and others not so successful.....

What is a parent to do??? it seems that his career is over for sure if we leave it as is.
But the risks....................scare me!!!!

 

[Jenny]

no ideas but my heart goes out to you and him. Hope you can find some answers.

 

[gymgal]

what is the specific injury? Ds (not a gymnast) went through ligament repair surgery in Jan. He had been dealing with the pain for over a year, with many therapies, bracing, etc. nothing helped. The road back from surgery had been a long one but he is almost back to 100% and is back to baseball and guitar. Making the decision for surgery was a very tough one and was our last resort. But we are so glad we made it...

 

[munchkin3]

They think he either fractured the tiny bony process in the wrist where ligaments attach to. Since the fracture may be old, 4 month +, it healed wrong, or not at all.
I guess it could be also ligament damage of the TFCC.... I am sure they will have a pretty clear picture of what it is before doing anything.....or at least I would demand it!
either way, he is in pain when he does gymnastics.....I think we need to explore this last resort especially since we have done everything the doctors ask for 7 months!

 

[gymmom1974]

Both if those wrist injuries are very plausible: have they done an MRI or other diagnostic testing to determine what the injury is?

I would highly recommend any and all non invasive tests before letting them cut on your son. The wrist is very complicated, and more harm can be done if surgery isn't done correctly.

I would also recommend seeing a board certified hand surgeon. Ask around: because some may claim to be a "hand surgeon" but also performs surgery on shoulders, knees, feet, etc. With your son's ambitions, I would want someone who ONLY works with hand/wrist/elbow injuries. It would be worth it in this situation.

 

[skschlag]

I agree wtih gymmom. I know it has been 7 months, but I would still ask for repeats/2nd/3rd opinions on tests. One of our girls had wrist surgery that went horribly wrong when she was about 13/14. She has had 5 subsequent surgeries. She is still trying to compete but it has been a very long 4 years. Find the BEST in the area. She ended up going to the place that works on the pro athletes in the state, and is a destination for many pro athletes. Our coaches won't send anyone anywhere else now.

 

[gymmom1974]

BTW: I say this as a hand therapist, not just a "mom"...

 

[fuzi]

I had a different injury than your son, and after over three years of shoulder pain and every treatment imaginable, I had arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and I am so glad I did it. I'm not much of a gymnast anymore (I coach and judge), but I am able to do things now, two-years post surgery, that i couldn't imagine a couple of years ago. However, the year post surgery was a slow recovery process.

Assuming the injury is reparable by surgery (make sure you have had an MRI and other diagnostic testing), there are no other treatment options, and you find a great doctor, it might be a good move.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Both if those wrist injuries are very plausible: have they done an MRI or other diagnostic testing to determine what the injury is?

I would highly recommend any and all non invasive tests before letting them cut on your son. The wrist is very complicated, and more harm can be done if surgery isn't done correctly.


I would also recommend seeing a board certified hand surgeon. Ask around: because some may claim to be a "hand surgeon" but also performs surgery on shoulders, knees, feet, etc. With your son's ambitions, I would want someone who ONLY works with hand/wrist/elbow injuries. It would be worth it in this situation.

i concur with this 100%...................

 

[gymgal]

Both if those wrist injuries are very plausible: have they done an MRI or other diagnostic testing to determine what the injury is?

I would highly recommend any and all non invasive tests before letting them cut on your son. The wrist is very complicated, and more harm can be done if surgery isn't done correctly.

I would also recommend seeing a board certified hand surgeon. Ask around: because some may claim to be a "hand surgeon" but also performs surgery on shoulders, knees, feet, etc. With your son's ambitions, I would want someone who ONLY works with hand/wrist/elbow injuries. It would be worth it in this situation.

totally agree. Seek multiple opinions and stick to hand-only surgeons and then hand only therapists. We traveled half way across the country to have the leading surgeon in this particular injury do ds's surgery as Ds's injury is not a well known one. We went to 3 of "the best" hand surgeons in our state and they had no clue what was wrong or how to fix it. And we live in an area with professional sports teams and 2 excellent teaching hospitals....