Knee Op (OATS Surgery)

Andybtsn

Andybtsn

Andybtsn

Don
Joined
23 Oct 2005
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Location
North Yorkshire
Hi all,

Just to note, this isn't a medical thread. I am not seeking advice or help post-op so also don't ask for advice, ask a professional!

I'm wondering if anyone has had this operation and can share their experience and recovery. I am 8 weeks post-op and have physio every fortnight, I just had my 4th session last night. I have most of my mobility back walking, but still a long way from more extensive stuff, running, jumping, squats etc. I have just turned 39 and played football twice a week, one of the reasons why I went for the op was to prolong this and the specialist who operated on me expects me to be back playing in a few months.

I had open knee surgery rather than keyhole so the recovery has been a bit more brutal but each day it's getting stronger.

For anyone wondering what OATS is, it's the following

OATS is “osteochondral autograft transfer system”. It is one of the two types of cartilage transfer procedures and the other procedure is “Mosaicplasty”. Cartilage transfer procedures involve moving healthy cartilage from a non-weight bearing area of the knee to a damaged area of the cartilage in the knee. In mosaicplasty, plugs of cartilage and bone are taken from a healthy cartilage area and moved to replace the damaged cartilage of the knee. Multiple tiny plugs are used and once embedded, resembles a mosaic pattern, hence the name. With the OATS procedure, the plugs are larger. Therefore, the surgeon only needs to move one or two plugs of healthy cartilage and bone to the damaged area of the knee.
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I'm keen to hear if anyone else has this surgery and their recovery after?!

Thanks

Andy
 
Hope it all works out good for you! I had a partial meniscectomy a couple years ago, not OATS, but don't do what I did and push yourself too hard after surgery and delay your recovery. :cry: I'm 40 now and I'm out doing all the things I enjoy, climbing, trail running, mtbing, lifting etc. I'm pretty much back to where I was pre injury but I definitely notice a bit more ache after a long run or big day out carrying a lot of gear.
 
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I've got an issue with my left knee. Had xrays and an MRI. It locks, buckles, clicks and clacks. I do quite a physical job, and am on my feet for 12 hours a shift. So it's not exactly doing it a lot of good.

I'm waiting for the MRI results, so we'll have to see what's what.
 
Jimbeam3678 said:
Based on my broken leg experience and I am sure it applies here, physio, physio and more physio. It really does help, in the long term.
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To add more to this, if you haven’t already I would fine a private physio to work with you. Will be around £45 per hour, cannot stress enough what a worthwhile investment in your future self that will be.

Hope you get the results you are anticipating when you are backing playing.
 
I've had a microfracture procedure about 10 years ago. the position wasn't good for OATS or mosaicoplasty for my chondral deficit. It took me a good 6-12m recovery, but I had a few things happening in my life that meant I wasn't as good with physio as I should have been if truth be told. 3m in and it looked like a shark had bitten out part of my quads. I can run to a degree, but I still have a bit too much apprehension on any direction changes to have ever got back to rugby which was my aim.
Physio is the key for sure. keep doing it even when you feel you aren't making progress
 
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I haven't had that surgery but in February 2022 I had a full knee replacement and today I've been at the GPs moaning about it because I'm still having problems.
Going for X-Rays tomorrow but think I will be fobbed off.
 
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