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October 09, 2024

Sports Medicine save: Laura Santos overcomes complex knee injury

IU Health North Hospital

Sports Medicine save: Laura Santos overcomes complex knee injury

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

Laura Santos sustained a severe knee injury involving multiple ligament tears, underwent ACL reconstruction surgery with Dr. Bryan Saltzman, and is now recovering.

On May 27, Laura Santos was at a Memorial Day gathering, riding a mechanical bull. When she finished, she stood up on the uneven inflatable floor surrounding the device and she knew something went wrong.

“My knee went out and I heard it pop,” she says. “I knew instantly that it was bad.”

Her husband took her to a local Emergency department, where she had X-rays done and was told nothing was broken. When she returned home, she knew she needed more care.

She visited IU Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Carmel on June 5. The team ordered an MRI and put Santos in a knee brace.

A surprising diagnosis

Later that month, she met with Dr. Bryan Saltzman, a board-certified sports medicine provider specializing in complex sports medicine as well as knee, shoulder and elbow surgery.

doctor examines knee
Dr. Bryan Saltzman

"Laura unfortunately had sustained a tear of her ACL, as well as a significant MCL tear and a tear of her medial and lateral meniscus,” Dr. Saltzman explains. "Ultimately, given the nature and location of her ligament and meniscus pathology, as well as the timing of her injury, we felt that the best way to get her back to full functionality, stability and strength of her affected knee was to move forward with surgical planning.”

Though her diagnosis was overwhelming, Santos was impressed by Dr. Saltzman.

"He just talked through all the different logistics,” she says. "He was really, really wonderful. He made sure we understood and we had the same gameplan.”

"It is important to me that my patients leave the office with a really deep understanding of what is going on with their body, how we interpret the injury or abnormality, and are in agreement with the final plan of action,” Dr. Saltzman adds. "We ended up proceeding with an ACL reconstruction, repair with 'internal bracing' of her MCL injury, and repair of both the medial and lateral meniscal structures.”

Walking toward recovery

Santos saw Dr. Saltzman for her six-week post-operation appointment in mid-September. She is still in her leg brace with hopes that she will be able to take it off permanently soon. She is undergoing physical therapy to work on strength, knee motion, and weightbearing tolerance, and she will follow up with Dr. Saltzman again three months after her procedure.

woman with knee injury listens to doctor
Laura Santos

Had she not sought care for her leg, it could’ve led to further issues.

"The concern with the knee going untreated is the potential for persistent instability, as well as progression of meniscus or cartilage injury that could lead to earlier onset of progressive arthritis changes,” Dr. Saltzman explains.

Meanwhile, Santos is happy with the outcome and that she will be able to walk around during an upcoming trip to Las Vegas. She credits her recovery to Dr. Saltzman.

"He was great,” she says. "You never know what you are going to get, but he was just what I needed.”

Learn more about IU Health’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine services here.

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