Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Australian aerials skier Lydia Ierodiaconou has undergone a successful knee reconstruction in Melbourne which puts her back on track for a place in the 2006 Australian Winter Olympic team.

The 23-year-old Torino medal contender received a donor Achilles tendon in what was a ”straightforward” allograft reconstruction.

No damage was discovered to any other parts of the knee, and Ierodiaconou is expected to be ready to resume water jump training in three months.

“I was a bit upset when I came out of the operation, because what I’d just had done really hit home, but realistically it was the only option if I wanted to compete in Torino,” Ierodiaconou said.

“A conventional reconstruction was out of the question because of the short time frame to the Games. And if I had tried to go on without the ACL I could have done more damage that would have ruled me out anyway, and also created long term problems.”

“Now I’m just keen to get up and start walking and get on with the rehabilitation.”

The Olympic Winter Institute skier conceded she was unlikely to be able to compete the new triple somersaults she had been working on last season.

“I wanted to make an impression at the Games by doing new jumps but now I guess if I can just get there and do well, that will be a big enough impression.”

In the allograft procedure, a tendon from a deceased person is inserted into the knee, rather than a patella or Achilles tendon from the patient.

With only one operation site, recovery is quicker. The fact that the allograft procedure can be done arthroscopically also improves rehabilitation time.

Although the allograft procedure is common in the United States - with some of the top gridiron linebackers able to resume playing after three months - it has not been used widely in Australia, and rarely for a first-time injury.

Courtesy OWI/Sportcom