Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Within 3 Weeks Does Not Increase Stiffness and Complications Compared With Delayed Reconstruction: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1263-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Deabate ◽  
Davide Previtali ◽  
Alberto Grassi ◽  
Giuseppe Filardo ◽  
Christian Candrian ◽  
...  

Background: Injury-to-surgery time has been identified as a key point in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, with early versus delayed treatment remaining a debated and controversial topic in the management of ACL tears. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aim was to quantitatively synthesize the best literature evidence by including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing early versus delayed ACL reconstruction, with a clear and univocal definition of cutoffs of early or delayed surgery. The hypothesis was that early treatment would lead to similar final clinical results compared with the delayed approach while providing a faster recovery without an increase in complications after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on February 12, 2019, using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature databases. According to previous literature, 2 analyses with different cutoffs for injury-to-surgery time (3 weeks and 10 weeks) were performed to distinguish early and delayed reconstruction. The influence of timing was analyzed through meta-analyses in terms of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), risk of complications, range of motion (ROM) limitation, risk of retears, and residual laxity. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were assessed following the Cochrane guidelines. Results: Eight studies (5 in 3-week cutoff analysis and 3 in 10-week cutoff analysis) were included. No differences were found in terms of PROMs, risk of complications, ROM limitation, risk of retears, and residual laxity either in the 3-week cutoff analysis or in the 10-week cutoff analysis ( P > .05). The level of evidence was moderate to low for the outcomes of the 3-week cutoff analysis and low to very low for the outcomes of the 10-week cutoff analysis. Conclusion: This meta-analysis did not confirm the previously advocated benefits of delaying ACL surgery to avoid the acute posttraumatic phase. In fact, RCTs demonstrated that timing of surgery after ACL tears has no influence on the final functional outcome, risk of retears, or residual instability. While no data were available about the recovery time, literature results showed that early ACL reconstruction could be performed without increasing the risk of complications. Study Registration: CRD42019119319 (PROSPERO).

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Ariel de Lima ◽  
Lana Lacerda de Lima ◽  
Nayara Gomes Reis de Souza ◽  
Rodrigo Amorim de Moraes Perez ◽  
Marcel Faraco Sobrado ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To compare the clinical outcomes of isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with combined reconstruction of the ACL and anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee. Methods A search was conducted on the PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases, in line with the PRISMA protocol. The indexation terms used were “anterior cruciate ligament” OR “acl” AND “anterolateral ligament” AND “reconstruction.” Articles that compared patients submitted to combined ACL and ALL reconstruction with those submitted to isolated reconstruction of the ACL, with levels of evidence I, II, and III, were included. Studies with follow-up of less than 2 years and articles that did not use “anatomical” techniques for ALL reconstruction, such as extraarticular tenodesis, were excluded. A meta-analysis with R software was conducted, with a random effects model, presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence level (CI) and statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results Ten articles were selected, with a total of 1495 patients, most of whom were men, of whom 674 submitted to ACL and ALL reconstruction and 821 to isolated ACL reconstruction. Combined ACL and ALL reconstruction exhibited a statistically significant advantage in residual pivot shift (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.24–0.47, I2 = 0%, p < 0.01), rerupture rate (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.19–0.62, I2 = 0%, p < 0.01), Lachman test (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40–0.86, I2 = 21%, p < 0.01), and postoperative Lysholm score (MD 2.28, CI 95% 0.75–3.81, I2 = 73%, p < 0.01). Conclusions Combined ACL and ALL reconstruction obtained better postoperative clinical outcomes when compared with isolated ACL reconstruction, especially in reducing residual pivot shift and rerupture rate.


Author(s):  
C Pumell

Objective. To systematically review the published information regarding the effectiveness and safety of early postoperative quadriceps muscle exercise training on pain, joint laxity, function and range of motion in postoperative anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction adult patients. Data sources. Five databases (CINAHL, PEDro, Pubmed, Science Direct and the Cochrane Library) were searched for studies published from January 1990 to May 2007. Study selection. Publications describing research into the effectiveness of early quadriceps exercises after ACL reconstruction were included. A total of three eligible articles met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction. A review of the three eligible studies was undertaken to describe the key study components. The PEDro Scale was used to determine the methodological quality of the selected trials and the level of evidence of all the eligible studies was categorised according to the evidence hierarchy by Lloyd-Smith.24 Relevant data were extracted by the two reviewer groups to reduce bias. Data synthesis. Due to study heterogeneity a meta-analysis could not be conducted. Effect sizes were calculated provided that sufficient data were provided. Outcome measures included range of motion (ROM), functional performance, pain  and knee laxity. The methodological quality of the studies did not vary considerably across the studies and the average PEDro score was 66%. Marginal significant differences were noted in knee ROM at 1 month postoperatively, pain day 1 postoperatively, knee laxity and subjective evaluation of function at 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion. Early quadriceps exercises can be performed safely in the first 2 postoperative weeks, but clinically significant gains in ROM, function, pain and knee laxity were not evident. Further research should include standardised interventions, measurement time frames and outcome measurement tools to allow for a meta- analysis to be conducted


Author(s):  
C Pumell

Objective. To systematically review the published information regarding the effectiveness and safety of early postoperative quadriceps muscle exercise training on pain, joint laxity, function and range of motion in postoperative anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction adult patients. Data sources. Five databases (CINAHL, PEDro, Pubmed, Science Direct and the Cochrane Library) were searched for studies published from January 1990 to May 2007. Study selection. Publications describing research into the effectiveness of early quadriceps exercises after ACL reconstruction were included. A total of three eligible articles met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction. A review of the three eligible studies was undertaken to describe the key study components. The PEDro Scale was used to determine the methodological quality of the selected trials and the level of evidence of all the eligible studies was categorised according to the evidence hierarchy by Lloyd-Smith.24 Relevant data were extracted by the two reviewer groups to reduce bias. Data synthesis. Due to study heterogeneity a meta-analysis could not be conducted. Effect sizes were calculated provided that sufficient data were provided. Outcome measures included range of motion (ROM), functional performance, pain  and knee laxity. The methodological quality of the studies did not vary considerably across the studies and the average PEDro score was 66%. Marginal significant differences were noted in knee ROM at 1 month postoperatively, pain day 1 postoperatively, knee laxity and subjective evaluation of function at 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion. Early quadriceps exercises can be performed safely in the first 2 postoperative weeks, but clinically significant gains in ROM, function, pain and knee laxity were not evident. Further research should include standardised interventions, measurement time frames and outcome measurement tools to allow for a meta- analysis to be conducted


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