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Factors associated with excellent 6-month functional and isokinetic test results following ACL reconstruction

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To identify patient concomitant injury and surgical characteristics associated with 6-month excellent functional and isokinetic testing results following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods

Patients that underwent ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon had isokinetic and functional testing performed with excellent 6-month outcome defined as greater than 85 % in isokinetic strength and 90 % in functional tests (excellent 6-month group vs. delayed 6-month group). Patient concomitant injury and surgical factors were then analysed in univariate and multivariate statistical models to assess which characteristics predicted the excellent 6-month group.

Results

The 224 patients included 93 males and 131 females, with median age of 22 (range 12–59) years, body mass index (BMI) of 25.4 (range 17–44), and median Tegner activity score of 6 (range 2–10). Fifty-two patients (23 %) were included in the excellent 6-month group, while 172 patients (77 %) were in the delayed 6-month group. In univariate analysis, favourable factors with the excellent 6-month outcome group were younger age (24 vs. 27; p = 0.01), lower BMI (24.5 vs. 26.2; p = 0.03), and minimal articular cartilage damage (71 vs. 56 %; p = 0.048). In multivariate analysis, a negative effect was observed for patients older than 30 years that had ACL reconstruction with autograft (p = 0.0004).

Conclusion

Factors significantly associated with excellent 6-month functional and isokinetic test results following ACL reconstruction included younger age, lower BMI, and minimal cartilage degeneration. The use of allograft was associated with improved functional and strength testing after ACL reconstruction in patients over 30 years of age.

Level of evidence

Prognostic/therapeutic study, Level III.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge Jessica Ruff for contributions to data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Aaron J. Krych, Bruce A. Levy, Michael J. Stuart & Diane L. Dahm

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Lenoir Memorial Hospital, 100 Airport Road, Kinston, NC, 28501, USA

    Jessica A. Woodcock

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri, 1100 Virginia Ave., Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    Joseph A. Morgan

Authors
  1. Aaron J. Krych
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  2. Jessica A. Woodcock
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  3. Joseph A. Morgan
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Correspondence to Diane L. Dahm.

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Krych, A.J., Woodcock, J.A., Morgan, J.A. et al. Factors associated with excellent 6-month functional and isokinetic test results following ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 1053–1059 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-2869-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-2869-9

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