A study published online in The American Journal of Sports Medicine examines factors that may affect clinical outcomes following revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The authors conducted a case-control study of 989 patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction, who had a median age of 26 years and a median time of 3.4 years since prior ACL reconstruction.
At 2-year follow-up, they found that:
- Compared with 1-incision technique, previous arthrotomy was linked to significantly poorer outcomes for International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain, sports/recreation, and quality of life (QOL) subscales.
- Use of a metal interference screw for current femoral fixation was linked to significantly better outcomes for 2-year KOOS symptoms, pain, and QOL subscales, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) stiffness subscale.
- Not performing notchplasty at revision was linked to significantly improved outcomes for IKDC, KOOS activities of daily living (ADL) and QOL subscales, and WOMAC stiffness and ADL subscales.
Factors prior to revision ACL reconstruction associated with poorer clinical outcomes at 2 years included lower baseline outcome scores, a lower Marx activity score at the time of revision, a higher body mass index, female sex, and a shorter time since the patient’s last ACL reconstruction. Learn more...
