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Study results show incidence of ACL reconstruction has increased significantly
According to recent study data, the number of ACL reconstructions has risen significantly between 1994 and 2006, particularly in women younger than 20 years of age and older than 40 years of age.
Researchers culled ICD-9 codes relating to ACL tear and reconstruction from two databases between 1994 and 2004. ACL reconstruction incidence was determined via data from the U.S. Census. Results were stratified by patient age, sex, facility and any concomitant diagnoses/procedures.
ACL reconstruction incidence increased from 86,687 in 1994 to 129,836 in 2006, marking a growth of approximately 150%. This growth was significantly higher in women (10.36 in 1994 to 18.06 in 2006 per 100,000 person-years) than in men (22.58 to 25.42) — especially in women younger than 20 and older than 40 years of age, according to the researchers.
Procedures were completed in an outpatient setting 95% of the time in 2006, up from 43% in 1994. Concomitant procedures most frequently observed were partial meniscectomy and chondroplasty.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.