This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Re-injury after ACL reconstruction more common in young athletes
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
LAS VEGAS — During the course of a 15-year span, one in three young athletes experienced re-injury after ACL reconstruction, according to study results presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, here.
Researchers reviewed 242 young adults (mean age: 16 years) after a mean of 16.6 years who underwent ACL reconstruction with either an autologous bone-patella tendon-bone graft or a hamstring tendon graft. After 15 years, patients were asked to answer an online questionnaire or complete a subjective interview.
Overall, ACL reinjury occurred in 31% of young athletes. Among them, 17% had ACL graft rupture, 20% had contralateral ACL rupture and 6% experienced rupture of both the graft and the contralateral ACL.
The researchers estimated the expected survival of the ACL grafts following reconstruction to be 92% at 2 years postoperatively, 88% at 5 years postoperatively, 85% at 10 years postoperative and 83% at 15 years postoperatively. For the contralateral ACL, expected survival of the graft was 98%, 90%, 83% and 81%, respectively, at the same time points. However, the likelihood of ACL graft ruptures significantly increased when there was family history of ACL ruptures, according to the researchers.
At 15 years, the mean IDKC score was 88. Seventy-six percent of patients returned to preinjury sport level, and 65% still participated in strenuous or very strenuous activity. The source and diameter of graft and age at time of surgery did not increase the likelihood if graft or contralateral ACL ruptures, according to the researchers. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Reference:
Roe JP, et al. Paper #708. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Annual Meeting. March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.
Disclosures: Roe reports having received stock and research support from Optimized Ortho Pty., as well as research support from Smith & Nephew. Please see the full abstract for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.