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Patient satisfaction with health is substantially improved following ACL reconstruction

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 26, pages 582–588 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To prospectively monitor health-related quality of life and return to work after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients with isolated ACL tears.

Methods

Sixty consecutive patients with isolated ACL tears who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were prospectively monitored using the “Questions on Life Satisfaction Modules” (FLZM) and “Short-Form 12 (SF-12)” quality-of-life outcome measures. The Lysholm score and Tegner activity index were used as functional outcome measures. Additionally, return to work (months) together with level of physical workload was analysed. Outcome measures were assessed the day before surgery and at 6, 12 weeks and 6, 12, and 24 months post-operatively. Quality-of-life outcomes were correlated with functional outcome scores.

Results

Satisfaction with health (FLZM) significantly improved within the first 2 years (p < 0.05), and the physical component scale (SF12) showed a significantly higher score after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months as compared with preoperative values (p < 0.05). “General life satisfaction (FLZM)” was initially decreased at 6 weeks (p < 0.05) but increased during the further follow-up period, reaching a score not significantly different from preoperative values. Mean Lysholm score improved from 66 preoperatively to 89 post-operatively (p < 0.05) and the median Tegner activity index improved from four to six points (p < 0.05) at final follow-up. Mean time to return to work was 7 weeks (range 1–34 weeks), and it strongly depended on physical workload. A positive correlation between quality of life and functional outcome (Lysholm score) was observed.

Conclusion

General life satisfaction is impaired during the early post-operative course, but returns to preoperative values after 2 years. Satisfaction with health reaches higher values after 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively, and the SF-12 physical component scale was seen to improve during the follow-up period. Improved functional outcomes were observed to correlate with quality-of-life measurements. Thus, patients can preoperatively be informed that they will benefit from ACL reconstruction in terms of an improved knee function and satisfaction with health. Heavy physical workload must be considered as a risk factor for prolonged time lost to return to work. These patients have to be identified and informed about realistic expectations.

Level of evidence

II.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank E. Bartsch (Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany) for data acquisition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Philipp Minzlaff, Thomas Heidt, Andreas B. Imhoff & Tim Saier

  2. Department of Reconstructive Joint Surgery, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany

    Tim Saier

  3. Department of Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany

    Johannes E. Plath

  4. Department Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Matthias J. Feucht

  5. Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Chirurgisches Klinikum München Süd, Munich, Germany

    Philipp Minzlaff

  6. OrthoPlus Germany, Munich, Germany

    Stefan Hinterwimmer

Authors
  1. Philipp Minzlaff
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  2. Thomas Heidt
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  3. Matthias J. Feucht
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  4. Johannes E. Plath
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  5. Stefan Hinterwimmer
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  6. Andreas B. Imhoff
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  7. Tim Saier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas B. Imhoff.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest related to this study.

Funding

No funding was received.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Technical University of Munich (No. 415/15) and conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Minzlaff, P., Heidt, T., Feucht, M.J. et al. Patient satisfaction with health is substantially improved following ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26, 582–588 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4623-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4623-6

Keywords

  • Anterior cruciate ligament
  • ACL tear
  • ACL reconstruction
  • Arthroscopy
  • Quality of life
  • Return to work