Joey - ACL Reconstruction, Torn Meniscus

UPDATE:

I was able to return to play hockey again and played my first Juniors game November 11 in the USPHL Premier with the NJ  Rockets in which I gained my first assist.  I am still currently playing for The  USPHL  Rockets Premier and have played 18 games and have 11 points as of the end of January. We are currently in first place in our division. I was moved up and played 1 game for the Rockets NCDC in which I scored a goal. I am looking forward to the rest of our season, playoffs and hopefully playing at the next level next season.

This has been possible only because of the excellent care I received from Dr. Deluca, his team, the Rothman staff, the care I received at Methodist and physical therapy at The Training Room in Sewell.

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January 16, 2017 during a Gloucester Catholic High School Ice Hockey game I was battling hard for the puck behind the net. My foot got pinned against the boards by getting caught between the ice and the boards. My opponents stick got caught between the blade of my skate and the boot, as he pulled his stick out it buckled my knee the wrong way and i went down on the ice. I knew when I tried to get up on it and I was unable to weight bare, it was bad.

I was taken to the Rothman Urgent care that night and had an MRI later that week that confirmed a complete tear of my ACL. My senior hockey season abruptly was ended along with my senior spring track season. I was a sprinter for our track team.

I underwent ACL surgery by Dr. Deluca exactly one month after the injury on Feburary 16. He chose to reconstruct with my own Patelar tendon for the best recovery and to be able to return to my sports. During surgery he also found a partial tear in my Menisicus which he was able to just shave the edge to repair.

Recovery was long, painful and a lot of hard work. I was home schooled for 1 month and went to PT 2- 3 days a week for 6 months. I was cleared to go to my senior prom and was able to enjoy my senior Florida trip by April 1st. I graduated June 1st and was just cleared August 4 and have begun to Skate again. I am on track to be able to return to play Ice Hockey again in November and plan to play Junior Hockey as soon as I am cleared in November in hopes of advancing my hockey career. I owe it all to Dr. Deluca and his great Rothman team.