Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at an academic hospital: short term follow-up

Purpose

To assess whether anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction performed at an Academic Hospital improves knee function and allows patients to return to their pre-injury level of normal and sporting activity.

Methods

We included patients with an isolated ACL injury who had an ACL reconstruction performed by the arthroscopy unit at an academic hospital.

A single follow-up visit at a minimum of 1 year after surgery was performed, testing the following:

1. –

   Range of movement, test of the stability of the reconstruction using a KT1000 arthrometer, a single hop test and presence of wound infection or sepsis was also noted.

2. –

   An x-ray of the knee was also done to check for complications.

3. –

   A Lysholm knee questionnaire was completed and compared to the pre-operative score. A Tegner Activity Scale to determine pre and post-operative level of normal and sporting activity was also recorded.

Results

Twenty eight patients fitted the criteria and seventeen were available for follow-up. The average age was 27 years, with a 13:4 male to female ratio. Seventy six percent were injured playing sport, eighteen percent from falls and six percent others.

All patients regained range of motion to within ten percent of the opposite knee. Fifty two percent showed a KT1000 side to side difference of 3mm or less. Eighty percent had a single hop test within fifteen percent of the opposite side.

There were no complications noted from the x-rays, and no cases of wound sepsis.

The average pre-op Lysholm score was 64.3 (range 37 to 91) and post operatively was 95.4 (range 84 to 100). Seventy six percent attained the same Tegner activity level post operatively, while seventeen percent dropped one level and seven percent dropped more than 1 level.

Conclusions

In a resource poor environment our early ACL reconstruction results are comparable to the literature.

NO DISCLOSURES