Date of Presentation

5-4-2023 12:00 AM

College

School of Osteopathic Medicine

Poster Abstract

Background: Patients who undergo ACL reconstruction with allografts may have an easier functional recovery compared to autograft patients. This is due to decreased donor site morbidity and less muscle atrophy compared to autograft patients. This “easier” recovery may be perceived by patients and may result in a subjective earlier readiness for return to sports.

Hypothesis/Purpose: To determine if there is a difference in perceived readiness to return to sport (RTS) in the first year postoperative period between individuals who undergo ACL reconstruction utilizing bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autografts or allografts.

Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study, Level II Methods: This was a prospective, observational cohort study for patients aged 14-25 years old undergoing primary ACL reconstruction done either with BTB autograft or allograft. Patients completed questionnaires postoperatively evaluating their perceived ability to perform various activities, and their responses were used to compare subjective ability to RTS.

Results: Fifty-nine patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients underwent ACL reconstruction with allograft while 43 patients received autograft. At 3 months those who received autograft reported higher perceived ability to cut (P = .003). At 6-months, patients who received allograft reconstruction reported higher perceived ability to run (P = .033), cut (P = .048), and decelerate (P = .008) as well as a higher overall perceived ability to RTS (P = .032). At all other times, there was no significant difference between cohorts’ subjective readiness to perform activities.

Conclusion The results of this study indicate that at times within the first year of recovery following ACL reconstruction, patients who receive allografts and autografts may have significantly different perceived ability to perform activities or RTS. However, while present at various times throughout the first year of recovery, any difference in perceived ability to perform activities or in overall RTS is no longer present at 12 months. This study does not implicate a subjective difference in ability to return to sport or ability to perform sport-like activities between autograft or allograft as being associated with an increased risk for re-injury in the first year following surgery.

Key Terms: knee ligament, ACL, allograft, imaging, general sports trauma

Keywords

Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Knee, Surgical Procedures, Return to Sport, Trauma, Sports Medicine, Reinjuries

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Musculoskeletal Diseases | Orthopedics | Sports Medicine | Surgery | Surgical Procedures, Operative | Trauma

Document Type

Poster

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May 4th, 12:00 AM

The Effect of Graft Selection on Patients’ Subjective Readiness to Return to Sport After ACL Reconstruction

Background: Patients who undergo ACL reconstruction with allografts may have an easier functional recovery compared to autograft patients. This is due to decreased donor site morbidity and less muscle atrophy compared to autograft patients. This “easier” recovery may be perceived by patients and may result in a subjective earlier readiness for return to sports.

Hypothesis/Purpose: To determine if there is a difference in perceived readiness to return to sport (RTS) in the first year postoperative period between individuals who undergo ACL reconstruction utilizing bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autografts or allografts.

Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study, Level II Methods: This was a prospective, observational cohort study for patients aged 14-25 years old undergoing primary ACL reconstruction done either with BTB autograft or allograft. Patients completed questionnaires postoperatively evaluating their perceived ability to perform various activities, and their responses were used to compare subjective ability to RTS.

Results: Fifty-nine patients were included in the study. Sixteen patients underwent ACL reconstruction with allograft while 43 patients received autograft. At 3 months those who received autograft reported higher perceived ability to cut (P = .003). At 6-months, patients who received allograft reconstruction reported higher perceived ability to run (P = .033), cut (P = .048), and decelerate (P = .008) as well as a higher overall perceived ability to RTS (P = .032). At all other times, there was no significant difference between cohorts’ subjective readiness to perform activities.

Conclusion The results of this study indicate that at times within the first year of recovery following ACL reconstruction, patients who receive allografts and autografts may have significantly different perceived ability to perform activities or RTS. However, while present at various times throughout the first year of recovery, any difference in perceived ability to perform activities or in overall RTS is no longer present at 12 months. This study does not implicate a subjective difference in ability to return to sport or ability to perform sport-like activities between autograft or allograft as being associated with an increased risk for re-injury in the first year following surgery.

Key Terms: knee ligament, ACL, allograft, imaging, general sports trauma

 

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