Back on the stage after complex knee surgery - Brigitta Csibrák's professional acrobat recovery story
Author Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár | 2023.03.31.
Brigitta Csibrák's career as a circus acrobat has been jeopardised by a complex knee injury. Thanks to orthopaedic specialist Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár, Brigitta's knee has been repaired. Six months after the accident, she was able to resume her acrobatic career where she left off before her injury.
Finding a professional
Brigitta Csibrák, professional acrobat with an extremely suffered a rare and complex knee injury: In the right knee, among others torn side and rear cross, damaged his cartilage ring and fractured his tibia.
When many people told me that it would be better not to fight, that I should give up, because it would never work, I cried a lot and I just thought that I couldn't stop. Dr. Gáspár operated on many of my friends in the circus. He has operated on about everyone in the famous Richter family and we have heard nothing but good things about him. He can be trusted, he is very skilful and everyone has been fine ever since. So I chose him too.
Unique injury in an unusual profession
As a circus acrobat, Brigitta has a special profession that requires special physical demands. Increased exertion and pushing the limits of the human body has many beauties, but it can also cause injury. Brigitta landed wrong on her foot while practising an acrobatic move. At the moment of landing knee bent abnormally forward. He was afraid that the accident would end his career.
Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár summarised the patient's injury:
Brigitta is 30 years old, a professional acrobat, a female patient who came to us in February this year. She injured her right knee after a bad landing following a jump. And she suffered a very serious injury.
In the process, he tore his collateral ligament, fractured the tibia near the joint, damaged one of the cartilage rings in his joint, and tore his posterior cruciate ligament and part of his anterior cruciate ligament.
It is a very complex and very complete injury. It is relatively rare to occur on such a severe scale. And so Brigitta came to us.
Two-stage surgical procedure to restore original knee function
The doctor told me exactly what would happen, that there would be two operations. He was very kind about everything. I could feel that it was not just a job to him, but He loves what He does and He wants to help me and fix me. He really knew how important this was to me, that this was my life.
Because of the complexity of the injury, Brigitta's knee could not be fully repaired in one operation. Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár, in consultation with the patient, suggested a two-step surgical sequence. They set out on the road to recovery with the patient, following the plan they had made together.
Dr. Szabolcs Gáspár summarized the reconstruction as follows:
We decided to operate on him in two stages. That is, it means that we will not treat all his injuries at once, but we will first treat the damage to the lateral ligament, the so-called posterior capsular tear, and the reconstruction of one of the tendons within the joint. After that we started a very close and very intensive rehabilitation for him. We used external fixation and, in consultation with the patient, we started a very intensive physiotherapy treatment.
About the torn knee ligament
From the human knee joint is connected by several ligaments, which play an important role in joint stability and movement control.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
Located in the middle of the joint, it is responsible for controlling the back and forth movement of the knee joint.
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
It is located at the back of the joint and is also responsible for controlling the movement of the knee joint. Like the ACL, it plays an important role in the stability of the joint.
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
It is located on the outside of the joint and controls the lateral movement of the knee joint.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL)
It is located on the inner side of the joint and is also important for controlling the lateral movement of the knee joint.
The prosthetic implants used by BMM's knee prosthesis specialists have an excellent rating in the International Prosthetic Register.
Types and causes of ligament rupture
The knee ligament rupture can be total or partial. Types of ligament rupture most commonly seen with rupture of the cruciate ligament.
- Partial cruciate ligament rupture the knee is somewhat mobile and weight-bearing, but painful and unstable.
- For a complete cruciate ligament rupture a crunching sensation is heard/experienced in the knee at the moment of injury, accompanied by severe pain. In this case the instability of the knee increases and loss of function may occur.
The number one indicator of a hamstring injury is usually some kind of sports injury. Torsion of the knee joint causes the tear, sudden stop or change of direction.
Surgical repair of a torn knee ligament
Rupture of the ligaments of the knee joint is a serious injury. Surgical intervention is needed to repair it. A torn ligament usually cannot be simply stitched up, so the affected ligament is rebuilt.
- Treatment of anterior cruciate ligament tears usually aims to restore joint stability. This is called ligamentoplasty.
- During the surgical procedure, another tissue, most often a tendon of the thigh, is used to replace the damaged ligament. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is usually done in a minimally invasive way.
- In the case of a rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament, surgery is necessary if other knee joint structures are damaged.
Surgical treatment for damage to the lateral ligaments usually involves suturing or rebuilding the affected ligaments.
The surgical treatment of knee ligaments is followed by a rehabilitation process. The aim of rehabilitation is to restore the mobility and strength of the joint. To do this physiotherapy, massage and other physio- and physiotherapy Methods are available.
Return to the stage
Dr Szabolcs Gáspár summarised the results of Brigitta's operation:
He was able to land on his operated limb 5.5 to 6 months after surgery following a jump.
Brigitta was very disciplined in following the doctor's instructions. His efforts have paid off. Professional hands gave him back the freedom of movement that was his life.
Maybe if I don't choose him, if I don't choose Dr. Gáspár, it might not happen and it might not work. It really wasn't just what He did to my leg that was important, but that He made me trust that I could do it. In a way that a lot of people said that it might not work out and I might not be able to recover.
Surgery is never an easy decision to make. Most people fears it and wants to avoid it. As a consequence procrastinates, which exacerbates the problem. Our patient's story is a perfect example of the desire for health, overcoming fear and achieving a seemingly impossible cure.
Brigitta's approach to surgery is truly inspiring.
...when it comes to surgery, I know it's very difficult to start or to go through with it, but if it's going to be good afterwards, fear must be overcome! ... In professional hands it's easy!