Prospective study of functional outcomes and return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the knee

Purpose Individual factors of low rates of return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction were unclear. We evaluated the impact of various individual factors after ACL reconstruction for return to sport in athletes.Methods A prospective study was performed in 1274 athletes, who had undergone ACL autograft reconstruction. Individual factors survey about return to sport was performed during the second year after surgery. Athlete responses were analyzed with a multivariate logistic model adjusted for baseline patient characteristics and an adjusted Cox model.Results Younger age and involvement in higher-level sporting activities were associated with a significantly higher frequency and a significantly shorter time to return to sport (running, training, competition; p = 0.001 to 0.028). Men returned to sport more rapidly than women, for both training (p = 0.007) and competition (p = 0.042). Although there was no difference to return to sport between hamstring (HT) and patellar tendon (PT) autograft. We note that MacFL surgery (Mac Intosh modified with intra- and extra-articular autografts used the tensor fasciae latae muscle) was associated with a higher frequency (p = 0.03) and rapidity (p = 0.025) of return to training than HT. Sports people practicing no weight-bearing sports returned to training (p < 0.001) and competition (p < 0.001) more rapidly than other sports people. By contrast, the practicing pivoting sports with contact started running again sooner (p < 0.001).Conclusion Younger age, male sex, higher level of sports, sportspeople practicing no weight-bearing sports, and MacFL surgery reduce time to return to sport after ACL reconstruction.