Economic Analyses in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Qualitative and Systematic Review

Dynamic intraligamentary stabilization versus conventional ACL reconstruction: A matched study on return to work

PURPOSE

The dynamic intraligamentary stabilization (DIS) technique is based on a different treatment approach than ACL reconstruction in that it intends to promote self-healing of the ligament. It is only recommended for acute injuries (<21days). The purpose of the present study was to compare DIS and ACLR with respect to the extent of work incapacity, revision rates, secondary arthroscopies, and treatment costs during recovery.

METHODS

The study was a post-hoc analysis of prospectively collected data in the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) database. All registered DIS cases treated until 31 December 2012 were included in the study. ACLR cases were matched to DIS cases using a propensity score approach and analysed in a follow-up period of 2 years after injury. Paired Student's T-test and the Chi-square test were used to compare the outcome measures.

RESULTS

All 53 DIS patients were matched to an ACLR pair. The mean time period from injury to surgery was 14days for DIS and 50days for ACLR (p<0.001). Overall work incapacity was 13% for DIS and 17% for ACLR resulting in a difference of nearly 1 month of absence from work (p=0.03). The course of postoperative work incapacity was very similar between the groups, while the work incapacity prior to surgery lower in the DIS group. We found no difference in treatment costs, secondary arthroscopies and revision rates.

CONCLUSION

DIS patients benefited from nearly one month shorter absence from work than ACLR patients. This difference is likely related to the early surgical timing that is recommended for DIS. Since no differences were found between DIS and ACLR in terms of treatment costs, secondary arthroscopies and revision rates, the study supports the choice of DIS as an additional treatment option for acute ACL injuries. Further comparative studies are proposed to improve the evidence about optimal timing and best practice in ACL treatment.

In-out versus out-in technique for ACL reconstruction: a prospective clinical and radiological comparison

Background

Several studies have recently shown better restoration of normal knee kinematics and improvement of rotator knee stability after reconstruction with higher femoral tunnel obliquity. The aim of this study is to evaluate tunnel obliquity, length, and posterior wall blowout in single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, comparing the transtibial (TT) technique and the out–in (OI) technique.

Materials and methods

Forty consecutive patients operated on for ACL reconstruction with hamstrings were randomly divided into two groups: group A underwent a TT technique, while group B underwent an OI technique. At mean follow-up of 10 months, clinical results and obliquity, length, and posterior wall blowout of femoral tunnels in sagittal and coronal planes using computed tomography (CT) scan were assessed.

Results

In sagittal plane, femoral tunnel obliquity was 38.6 ± 10.2° in group A and 36.6 ± 11.8° in group B (p = 0.63). In coronal plane, femoral tunnel obliquity was 57.8 ± 5.8° in group A and 35.8 ± 8.2° in group B (p = 0.009). Mean tunnel length was 40.3 ± 1.2 mm in group A and 32.9 ± 2.3 mm in group B (p = 0.01). No cases of posterior wall compromise were observed in any patient of either group. Clinical results were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

The OI technique provides greater obliquity of the femoral tunnel in coronal plane, along with satisfactory length of the tunnel and lack of posterior wall compromise.

Level of evidence

II, prospective study.

Return to Play and Patient Satisfaction After ACL Reconstruction: Study with Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Return to play and patient satisfaction after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have been inconsistently studied. The purposes of this study were to (1) investigate rates and predictors of return to play after ACLR, (2) evaluate patient satisfaction after ACLR, and (3) analyze the relationship between return to play and satisfaction with the result of ACLR.

METHODS

Eligible patients were active athletes included in an institutional ACL registry who had undergone ACLR and had been followed for a minimum of 2 years. A questionnaire was administered to elicit information regarding factors associated with return to play, sports performance, reinjury, and overall patient satisfaction. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare return to play with patient satisfaction. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic, sports, and clinical factors associated with return to play.

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-two patients with a mean age of 26.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12.5 years) who had been followed for a mean of 3.7 years were enrolled. Of 231 patients who responded to the return-to-play question, 201 (87.0%) had returned to play, at a mean of 10.1 months; of 175 athletes eligible to return to their prior level of competition, 89.1% had done so. Overall satisfaction was high: 85.4% were very satisfied with the outcome and 98.1% stated that they would have surgery again. Patients were more likely to respond "very satisfied" if they had returned to play (p < 0.001). Use of a patellar tendon autograft (odds ratio [OR] = 5.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.32 to 25.76) increased the chance of returning to play whereas playing soccer (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.66) or lacrosse (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.99) preoperatively decreased the likelihood of returning to play.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of return to play and patient satisfaction are high after ACLR in active athletes. The use of patellar tendon autograft increased the likelihood of returning to play whereas preinjury participation in soccer and lacrosse decreased these odds. Additionally, patients who returned to play were more likely to be very satisfied with the result of the ACLR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Acute ACL reconstruction in patients over 40 years of age

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcome of ACL reconstructions in patients older than 40 years of age to younger subjects. It has been hypothesized that patients older than 40 years of age achieve comparable clinical outcomes following acute ACL reconstruction using a hamstring tendon autograft than younger patients.

METHODS

Patients with an isolated ACL tear without any concomitant injuries and subsequent ACL reconstruction within 48 h from injury were included in this prospective study. According to patients' age, subjects were assigned to two groups: (A) 18-40 years and (B) 40-60 years. Functional outcomes, pain, post-operative radiographs and return to sports were recorded and analysed. The follow-up period was 24 months.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients were included in the study. Group A consisted of 39 patients (14 women, 25 men; median 27 years), group B of 20 patients (12 women, 8 men; median 45 years) respectively. At final follow-up, the Lysholm score showed no significant difference between group A (median 90; range 68-100) and group B (median 94.5; range 63-100) (n.s.). The final Tegner score showed a significant difference between group A (median 6; range 2-9) and group B (median 5.5; range 3-8) (p < 0.05). The mean VAS pain score was 1.3 (range 0-6) in group A and 1 (range 0-7) in group B, respectively (n.s.). Both groups returned to their pre-injury activity level and did not significantly change their activity in respect of pivoting sports and sports frequency at final follow-up (n.s.). According to the IKDC score, all except one of the patients in group A and all patients in group B had a normal or nearly normal final outcome (n.s.).

CONCLUSION

Patients older than 40 years of age achieve comparable clinical outcomes following acute ACL reconstruction using a hamstring tendon autograft than younger patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Cohort study, Level III.

Outpatient versus inpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Efforts to reduce the financial costs related to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) include reducing the length of hospitalization of the patient undergoing ACLR. However, it is unclear if inpatient and outpatient ACLR differ in terms of safety, satisfaction, costs and clinical outcomes.

AIM

To systematically review and synthesize the literature that directly compared costs and outcomes after outpatient and inpatient ACLR.

METHODS

Studies that directly compared outcomes of inpatient and outpatient ACLR were retrieved via searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Random effects meta-analysis and descriptive analysis were performed for relevant outcomes.

RESULTS

Costs analysis suggests that outpatient ACLR may be a cost effective procedure with savings ranging from $1371 to $7390. There were no differences for systemic and local complications p=0.64 (odds ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 0.20 to 13.49) and p=0.72 (0.81, 0.26 to 2.56) respectively, or pain in the second and seventh days after surgery, p=0.78 (mean difference -0.16; 95% confidence interval -1.28 to 0.96) and p=0.44 (0.48, -0.75 to 1.71), respectively. However, the outpatient group had less pain than the inpatient group in the first and third days after surgery, p=0.0001 (-0.39, -0.57 to -0.21) and p=0.0001(-0.39, -0.39 to -0.20), respectively. Descriptive analysis revealed that the outpatient group experienced similar or better satisfaction, strength and knee function compared to the inpatient group.

CONCLUSION AND KEY FINDINGS

Complications, pain, satisfaction, knee function and strength are similar or better after outpatient compared to inpatient ACLR. Furthermore, cost savings may be achieved with outpatient ACLR. However, included studies presented low methodological quality and the quality of evidence was very low, so these results need to be confirmed by future studies.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO (CRD42015024990).

Allograft Augmentation of Hamstring Autograft for Younger Patients Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Younger patients and those with smaller hamstring autograft diameters have been shown to be at significantly greater risk of graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. To date, there is no information in the literature about the clinical success and/or cost-effectiveness of increasing graft diameter by augmenting with semitendinosus allograft tissue for younger patients.

HYPOTHESIS

Hybrid hamstring grafts are a cost-effective treatment option because of a reduced rate of graft failure.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study (economic and decision analysis); Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients younger than 18 years who had undergone ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon between 2010 and 2015. During this period, the operating surgeon's graft selection algorithm included the use of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autografts for the majority of patients younger than 18 years. However, hamstring autografts (hamstring) or hybrid hamstring autografts with allograft augment (hybrid) were used in skeletally immature patients and in those whom the surgeon felt might have greater difficulty with postoperative rehabilitation after BTB graft harvest. Patient demographics, graft type, graft diameter, the time the patient was cleared to return to activity, and the need for secondary surgical procedures were compared between the hamstring and hybrid groups. The clinical results were then used to assess the potential cost-effectiveness of hybrid grafts in this select group of young patients with an ACL injury or reconstruction.

RESULTS

This study comprised 88 patients (hamstring group, n = 46; hybrid group, n = 42). The 2 groups did not differ in terms of age, sex, timing of return to activity, or prevalence of skeletally immature patients. Graft diameters were significantly smaller in the hamstring group (7.8 vs 9.9 mm; P < .001), which corresponded with a significantly greater rate of graft failure (13 of 46 [28.3%] vs 5 of 42 [11.9%]; P = .049). As a result of the reduced revision rate, the hybrid graft demonstrated incremental cost savings of US$2765 compared with the hamstring graft, and the hybrid graft was the preferred strategy in 89% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Driven by increased graft diameters and the reduced risk of revision, hybrid grafts appear to be a more cost-effective treatment option in a subset of younger patients with an ACL injury.

Impact of surgical timing on the outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study is the comparison of acute ACL reconstruction with or without meniscus repair within 48 h after injury and a delayed surgery during the inflammation-free interval. It was hypothesized that acute ACL reconstruction results in inferior patient reported outcomes and higher frequency of range of motion deficits.

METHODS

The effect of acute (within 48 h) and delayed (during the inflammation-free interval) ACL surgery was prospectively studied on 160 consecutive patients with ACL injury between January 2010 and December 2011. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate patients with an additional meniscus repair separately from isolated ACL surgeries. During the study period, partial meniscectomies were recorded to evaluate time dependent meniscus reparability. Patient reported outcomes, objective IKDC and manual stability measurements were documented during the 24-month follow-up period. The Pearson Chi-squared test was used to evaluate objective outcome measures. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to analyse the results of patient reported outcomes. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

For patients who underwent isolated ACL reconstruction, no statistical significant difference was observed at any time point regarding objective and subjective outcome measures. Significantly fewer patients who underwent acute combined ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair had an extension deficit between 3° and 5° at 12 months following surgery (3.7 vs. 22.2 %, p < 0.05). No difference regarding cyclops removal, re-injury of ACL or meniscus was found between the two surgical timing groups. Further, surgical timing did not influence the reparability of the meniscus.

CONCLUSION

An acute ACL reconstruction within 48 h is preferable in highly active patients or competitive athletes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prospective cohort study, Level II.

Patient perceptions regarding physician reimbursements, wait times, and out-of-pocket payments for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in Ontario

Background

Currently, there is a lack of knowledge regarding patient perceptions surrounding physician reimbursements, appropriate wait times, and out-of-pocket payment options for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Our objective was to determine the current state of these perceptions in an Ontario setting.

Methods

A survey was developed and pretested to address patient perceptions about physician reimbursements, appropriate wait times, and out-of-pocket payment options for ACLR using a focus group of experts and by reviewing prior surveys. The survey was administered to patients in a waiting room setting.

Results

Two hundred and fifty completed surveys were obtained (79.9% response rate). Participants responded that an appropriate physician reimbursement for ACLR was $1000.00 and that the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) reimbursed physicians $700.00 for ACLR. Seventy-four percent of participants responded that the OHIP reimbursement of $615.20 for the procedure was either lower or much lower than what they considered to be an appropriate reimbursement for ACLR. Over 90% of participants responded that an ACLR should occur within 90 days of injury. Thirty-five percent of participants were willing to pay $750.00 out-of-pocket to have an ACLR done sooner, while 16.4% of participants were willing to pay $2500.00 out-of-pocket to travel outside of Canada for expedited surgery.

Conclusion

This survey study demonstrates that patients’ estimates of both appropriate and actual physician reimbursements were greater than the current reimbursement for ACLR. Further, the majority of individuals report that the surgical fee for ACLR is lower than what they consider to be an appropriate amount of compensation for the procedure. Additionally, nearly all respondents believe that a ruptured ACL should be reconstructed within 90 days of injury. Consequently, a number of patients are willing to pay out-of-pocket for expedited surgery either in Canada or abroad. However, patients’ preferences for shorter wait times must be balanced with the known risk of arthrofibrosis associated with early ACLR.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40634-017-0076-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Current use of navigation system in ACL surgery: a historical review

PURPOSE

The present review aims to analyse the available literature regarding the use of navigation systems in ACL reconstructive surgery underling the evolution during the years.

METHODS

A research of indexed scientific papers was performed on PubMed and Cochrane Library database. The research was performed in December 2015 with no publication year restriction. Only English-written papers and related to the terms ACL, NAVIGATION, CAOS and CAS were considered. Two reviewers independently selected only those manuscripts that presented at least the application of navigation system for ACL reconstructive surgery.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-six of 394 articles were finally selected. In this analysis, it was possible to review the main uses of navigation system in ACL surgery including tunnel positioning for primary and revision surgery and kinematic assessment of knee laxity before and after different surgical procedures. In the early years, until 2006, navigation system was mainly used to improve tunnel positioning, but since the last decade, this tool has been principally used for kinematics evaluation. Increased accuracy of tunnel placement was observed using navigation surgery, especially, regarding femoral, 42 of 146 articles used navigation to guide tunnel positioning. During the following years, 82 of 146 articles have used navigation system to evaluate intraoperative knee kinematic. In particular, the importance of controlling rotatory laxity to achieve better surgical outcomes has been underlined.

CONLUSIONS

Several applications have been described and despite the contribution of navigation systems, its potential uses and theoretical advantages, there are still controversies about its clinical benefit. The present papers summarize the most relevant studies that have used navigation system in ACL reconstruction. In particular, the analysis identified four main applications of the navigation systems during ACL reconstructive surgery have been identified: (1) technical assistance for tunnel placement; (2) improvement in knowledge of the kinematic behaviour of ACL and other structures; (3) comparison of effectiveness of different surgical techniques in controlling laxities; (4) navigation system performance to improve the outcomes of ACL reconstruction and cost-effectiveness.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Kinematic outcomes following ACL reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction aims to restore the translational and rotational motion to the knee joint that is lost after injury. However, despite technical advancements, clinical outcomes are less than ideal, particularly in return to previous activity level. A major issue is the inability to standardize treatment protocols due to variations in materials and approaches used to accomplish ACL reconstruction. These include surgical techniques such as the transtibial and anteromedial portal methods that are currently under use and the wide availability of graft types that will be used to reconstruct the ACL. In addition, concomitant soft tissue injuries to the menisci and capsule are frequently present after ACL injury and, if left unaddressed, can lead to persistent instability even after the ACL has been reconstructed. Advances in the field of biomechanics that help to objectively measure motion of the knee joint may provide more precise data than current subjective clinical measurements. These technologies include extra-articular motion capture systems that measure the movement of the tibia in relation to the femur. With data gathered from these devices, a threshold for satisfactory knee stability may be established in order to correctly identify a successful reconstruction following ACL injury.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION IN BRAZIL'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several studies have reported on the epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) in Europe and North America; however, there is currently no data relating to Brazil. Objective: To describe the incidence of ACLR in Brazil and investigate temporal trends and differences between age and sex groups. Methods: All reported ACLR cases in the public hospital system between January 2008 and December 2014 were extracted from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Linear regression analysis was used to assess changes in ACLR incidence in the overall population and among sex and age groups, hospitalization time, and health care costs. Results: A total of 48,241 ACLR were reported from 2008-2014 with an overall incidence of 3.49 per 100,000 persons/year. Males accounted for 82% of the procedures. The incidence of ACLR increased by 56% among males (p=0.01) and by 112% among females (p=0.001). The mean hospitalization time decreased from 2.4 days in 2008 to 1.8 day in 2014 (R2 = 0.883, p= 0.002). The total cost across all years was US$56 million, with a mean of US$1,145 per ACLR. Conclusion: Although the total incidence of ACLR in Brazil is lower compared to other countries, it has increased over the years, especially in females. The creation of an ACLR registry is necessary in the future, for more accurate control and new investigations.