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. 2017 Apr 25;5(4):2325967117703399.
doi: 10.1177/2325967117703399. eCollection 2017 Apr.

Return to Sport in the Younger Patient With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Kate E Webster  1 , Julian A Feller  2 , Timothy S Whitehead  2 , Gregory D Myer  3   4   5   6 , Peter B Merory  1
Affiliations

Return to Sport in the Younger Patient With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Kate E Webster et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is generally regarded as a successful procedure, only 65% of patients return to their preinjury sport. While return-to-sport rates are likely higher in younger patients, there is a paucity of data that focus on the younger patient and their return-to-sport experience after ACL reconstruction.

Purpose: To investigate a range of return-to-sport outcomes in younger athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction surgery.

Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: A group of 140 young patients (<20 years old at surgery) who had 1 ACL reconstruction and no subsequent ACL injuries completed a survey regarding details of their sport participation at a mean follow-up of 5 years (range, 3-7 years).

Results: Overall, 76% (95% CI, 69%-83%) of the young patient group returned to the same preinjury sport. Return rates were higher for males than females (81% vs 71%, respectively; P > .05). Of those who returned to their sport, 65% reported that they could perform as well as before the ACL injury and 66% were still currently participating in their respective sport. Young athletes who never returned to sport cited fear of a new injury (37%) or study/work commitments (30%) as the primary reasons for dropout. For those who had successfully returned to their preinjury sport but subsequently stopped participating, the most common reason cited for stopping was study/work commitments (53%). At a mean 5-year follow-up, 48% of female patients were still participating in level I (jumping, hard pivoting) sports, as were 54% of males.

Conclusion: A high percentage of younger patients return to their preinjury sport after ACL reconstruction surgery. For patients in this cohort who had not sustained a second ACL injury, the majority continue to participate and are satisfied with their performance.

Keywords: ACL; fear of reinjury; sport participation; sport performance; young athlete.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Percentage of patients participating in sports by level of activity on a weekly basis for the preceding 12-month period. Level I, jumping, hard pivoting; level II, running, twisting; level III, no turning or jumping.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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