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Patient-Related Risk Factors for ACL Graft Failure

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Revision ACL Reconstruction

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Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament tears are a devastating injury to athletes commonly encountered in pivoting and cutting sports. Reconstruction of the ACL is generally performed to restore stability and return the athlete to a healthy and active lifestyle. Numerous risk factors for primary ACL tear have been identified including sex, activity level, anatomic variables, and neuromuscular control. ACL graft failure has been related to poor surgical technique, trauma, failure of biological incorporation, graft type, infection, and undiagnosed concurrent knee injury. There has been limited investigation, however, into patient-related risk factors for re-tear of grafts following ACL reconstruction. An understanding of these risk factors would enable clinicians to better counsel patients on their expected outcomes. This chapter reviews activity level, sex, age, biomechanical factors, and neuromuscular control as risk factors for graft failure after primary ACL reconstruction. Activity level and age have been shown to be significant risk factors for re-tear of ACL grafts. Athletes returning to high-level pivoting and cutting sports should be counseled on the increased risk of graft failure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. OSU Sports medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3100, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Andrew R. Duffee MD

  2. OSU Sports Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Sports Health & Performance Institute, 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3100, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Timothy E. Hewett PhD & Christopher C. Kaeding MD

Authors
  1. Andrew R. Duffee MD
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  2. Timothy E. Hewett PhD
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  3. Christopher C. Kaeding MD
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Correspondence to Timothy E. Hewett PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA

    Robert G. Marx

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Duffee, A.R., Hewett, T.E., Kaeding, C.C. (2014). Patient-Related Risk Factors for ACL Graft Failure. In: Marx, R. (eds) Revision ACL Reconstruction. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0766-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0766-9_1

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