O'Dowd DP, Stanley J, Rosenfeldt MP, Walsh S, Twaddle B, De Ruiter L, Crua E, Monk AP, Walsh S. Reduction in re-rupture rates following implementation of
return-to-sport testing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 313 patients with a mean follow-up of 50 months.
J ISAKOS 2024:S2059-7754(24)00005-1. [PMID:
38218452 DOI:
10.1016/j.jisako.2024.01.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to assess the mid-term effectiveness of a return to sport (RTS) test in relation to preventing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) re-rupture and contralateral ACL injury following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Furthermore, this study aimed to assess the timing of passing a, RTS-test after surgery, and the effect age has on RTS outcomes.
METHODS
Patients undergoing ACLR between August 2014 and December 2018 took an RTS-test following rehabilitation. The RTS-test consisted of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury Scale, a single-leg hop, a single-leg triple hop, a single-leg triple cross-over hop, a box-drop vertical jump down, a single-leg 4-rep max-incline leg press, and a modified agility T test. RTS-passing criteria were ≥90% limb symmetry index in addition to defined takeoff and landing parameters. Mid-term review assessed sporting level, ACL re-injury, and contralateral ACL injury.
RESULTS
A total of 352 patients underwent RTS-testing, following ACLR with 313 (89%) contactable at follow-up, a mean of 50 months (standard deviation: 11.41, range: 28-76) after surgery. The re-rupture rate was 6.6% after passing the RTS-test and 10.3% following failure (p = 0.24), representing a 36% reduction. Contralateral ACL injury rate after surgery was 6% and was 19% lower in those passing the RTS test. The mean age of patients passing their first RTS-test was significantly higher than that of those who failed (p = 0.0027). Re-ruptures in those who passed the RTS test first time occurred late (>34 months), compared to those who failed first time, which all occurred early (<33 months) (p = 0.0015). The mean age of re-rupture was significantly less than those who did not sustain a re-rupture (p = 0.025).
CONCLUSION
Passing a RTS-test following ACLR reduces ACL re-rupture by 36.21% and contralateral ACL injury by 19.15% at mid-term follow-up. Younger patients are more likely to fail a RTS-test and are at higher risk of contralateral ACL rupture.
LEVEL III EVIDENCE
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