three acl surgeries, return to play football?

is it possible for my son to play football again after three ACL surgeries in the last 20 months.
The first tear came during a block. The second tear came when he returned back to contact too soon. The third tear came because the graft failed and had died in his knee.

He is a junior now and wants to come back for his senior year. He has worked extremely hard during his rehab each time and has the will power and the support of his team and coaches.

I am just wondering if it is the right thing to do
This surgery was done with a patella tendon (cadaver)

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three acl surgeries, return to play football?

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Oct 06, 2008
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return to football
by: Bart - SII

This is a very hard decision, and one that cannot be made lightly. It is also one that only you and your family will be able to make.

I sometimes question returning to contact sports after a second ACL reconstruction, simply because of the amount of trauma and stress the knee has already been through. I think that the rehab is the most important part after surgery, and the deciding factor on whether or not someone should return. After two surgeries, a third one becomes even trickier simply because of what the knee has gone through with 3 surgeries.

If it was my knee, I would give up the contact sports, even though it would be something very hard to do. I just don't think that the risk of another ACL tear is worth it considering the long term health of the knee. Seeing the long term picture is hard when you are in highschool though.

I would talk with your physician and see what their recommendations are, and then you and your family will have to come up with a decision everyone can live with.

Best,

Bart