Meniscus Transplant Triathlete Back to Sport for 10+ Years & Running
My name is Emily and I've been a patient of Dr. Stone's since I had surgery in March of 2010. I am a lifetime skier and I ski racer and an Ironman distance triathlete. And when I went to see Dr. Stone, I had a meniscus transplant because I've destroyed, I had destroyed my meniscus through all of those activities and I also had an articular cartilage paste graft because of the accompanying articular cartilage damage I did through all that stuff without enough of a meniscus to support me. I'm happy to report that since I was last year in December of 2010 I trained for and completed my fourth iron man and I did the whole race only eight minutes slower than my previous pre-surgery time. And at an iron man distance. Eight minutes is pretty much nothing. So I was thrilled. It was the most fun marathon I've ever run in my life because I was so thrilled to be back.
I think I've smiled the entire 26.2 miles. So if I felt bad, I wouldn't have even known it. And I'm continuing to train and it's now June of 2012 and I'm hoping to do another Ironman in September. And I just did a double century bike ride last Saturday, so it was about seven days ago and felt fantastic and I felt really strong on the bike. It ended up being 212 miles in one day, and it was phenomenal. I'm going to do it again. So, Dr. Stone's surgery has been a revelation to me. It's, it's totally enabled me to continue being who I am, which is way more than just the sports that I do. It's, it's part of my personality and I'm thrilled. I'm his number one fan and it's a lot of hard work. It's, it's absolute drive determination and motivation on my part that got me to where I am right now. But I'm really happy to be here and that's pretty much all I can say.
Emily S. Profile
Emily is an Ironman distance triathlete and a lifetime ski-racer. Years of activity had destroyed her meniscus cartilage, and since the injured meniscus had not been repaired, it also resulted in articular cartilage damage. Emily had a BioKnee replacement consisting of a meniscus transplant and an articular cartilage paste graft in 2010. Within a year of the surgery, she trained for and completed her fourth Ironman and did the whole race only eight minutes slower than her previous pre-surgery time.
By 2012 Emily also completed two double-century bike rides. Emily says “Dr. Stone’s surgery has been a revelation to me, it’s totally enabled me to continue being who I am which is way more than just the sports that I do. It’s part of my personality and I’m thrilled.”
We have followed Emily’s progress over the years as part of our outcome study on meniscus transplants in athletes. Since her surgery, she has completed 7 Iron Man races, Heliskies, and skies powder regularly. Her last Iron Man finish was in September 2021.
Updates from Emily S.
This year, I qualified for and just competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, having finished 4th in my age group in Ironman Maryland last Fall. My BioKnee surgery leg did not hurt! This is the 9th Ironman I have done since my surgery and I couldn't be more pleased! Dr. Stone, I hope you are well and are continuing to change the trajectory of people's lives. Thank you again and best possible wishes to all.
