Study: Socioeconomic factors can affect pediatric ACL reconstruction rate

Household income, insurance type and age at injury play a role in the rate in which ACL reconstruction surgery occurs in children, according to research presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Specialty Day.

“In our study, ACL surgery occurred more rapidly among pediatric and adolescent subjects who were more affluent, covered by commercial insurance and who were older when first seen. It was also interesting to note that ethnicity, gender and obesity did not show a significant correlation to time of treatment,” Justin T. Newman, MD, stated in a press release.

The study included 133 patients who had a mean age of 15 years at injury and a mean time to surgery of 2.29 months. Adjusting for household income, the surgery rate was 1.19 times greater for every 1-year increase in age at time of injury. Controlling for age at injury, the surgery rate was 1.13 times greater for every $10,000 increase in household income.

Newman and colleagues found that patients who delayed ACL reconstruction surgery for more 5 five months after injury and returned to sports prior to surgery had increased severity of concomitant pathology. Patients who had surgery more than 5 months after injury also had a 7.81 times greater odds of chondral or meniscal injury which required additional surgery.

“According to most recent research, treating pediatric ACL injuries in a more timely manner leads to better outcomes and a quicker return to sports,” Newman stated.

Reference:

Newman J. Paper #5. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Specialty Day; March 15, 2014; New Orleans.

Disclosure: Newman has no relevant financial disclosures.