Factors Influencing the Outcomes of a Validated Return to Sports Test Battery After ACL Reconstruction: A Retrospective Analysis of 676 Patients (187)

Objectives: Second ACL injuries (defined as a graft rupture or contralateral ACL rupture) are common after ACL reconstruction. It is postulated that this observation could reflect a premature attempt to return to sports (RTS) and that delaying RTS until certain quality indicators or rehabilitation milestones are met could reduce the risk. There is consequently considerable interest in the application of RTS criteria. Multiple authors have reported that patients who passed a battery of tests prior to RTS, had a lower risk of re-injury and an increased rate of return to sport. However, factors influencing RTS scores have not been well studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the key factors that influence RTS test scores. Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between March 2016 and May 2017, who also had a documented RTS evaluation with K-STARTS, (a validated, composite psychological and functional RTS test battery (Fig 1)) at 6 months following surgery, was undertaken. All patients underwent the same standardized rehabilitation program (Table 1) but in addition to this they were offered the opportunity to participate in a separate individualized RTS program (Table 2). If patients chose to participate in the RTS program, this would occur in addition to the standard program and not instead of it. The first session would typically occur 3 months post-operatively and comprised of ten sessions that took place over a 12-week period. Demographic data and characteristics including the frequency of pre-injury sports participation, Tegner score, time from injury to surgery, graft type, the presence of meniscal lesions, whether a lateral tenodesis was performed, and whether patients participated in the specific RTS program in addition to physiotherapy were recorded. To identify factors influencing the K-STARTS score at six months postoperatively, an analysis of variances was performed. When a significant effect was found, post hoc comparisons were made using Tukey’s HSD tests with Bonferroni’s correction. Results: 676 patients were included in the study. Outcomes of the analysis of the influence of factors on the K-STARTS score is comprehensively presented in Table 3. The K-STARTS score was significantly higher in males than females (13.9 vs 12.4, p<0.001), in younger patients (those aged less than 30 vs older patients, 14.2 vs 12, p<0.001), ACL reconstructions performed with hamstring tendon autografts compared to bone-patellar tendon-bone (13.5 vs 13.1, p=0.03) and in those who completed a specific RTS program in addition to standard rehabilitation, compared to those who did not participate (17.1 vs 13.1, p<0.001). However, the only factor that significantly influenced the K-STARTS score beyond the minimal detectable change threshold (previously determined to be 3.3 points) was the completion of the additional RTS program. The pre-injury frequency of sports participation, whether the dominant limb was injured, time from injury to surgery, the presence of associated meniscal injuries and whether a lateral tenodesis was performed, did not significantly influence the K-STARTS score. Conclusions: Completion of a specific return to sports program, in addition to standard rehabilitation, was the most important factor influencing the K-STARTS composite functional and psychological return to sports test score at 6 months after ACL reconstruction.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Lateral Plasty in High-Risk Young Adolescents: Revisions, Subjective Evaluation, and the Role of Surgical Timing on Meniscal Preservation

Background: In adolescents, the rate of meniscal injury at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, the rate of ACL graft revision, and clinical outcomes has not yet been investigated. Hypothesis: In patients younger than 16 years, the rate of meniscal injuries at the time of ACL reconstruction increases with time from injury. The mid-term revision rate and reoperation rate after ACL reconstruction with hamstrings and lateral tenodesis are lower than those reported in literature for isolate ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Case series. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: Patients younger than 16 years who underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring and lateral tenodesis, with a follow-up ≥2 years were included. The number of meniscal lesions was stratified according to the delay between injury-to-surgery (<3, 3-12, >12 months). All reoperations, Lysholm score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales for pain (at rest and during activity), and return to sport were collected. Results: A total of 151 patients (mean age 14.8 ± 1.2 years) were included. Patients undergoing surgery at <3 months after injury had a lower meniscal injury rate (36%) than those treated at 3 to 12 months (55%) and >12 months (63%) after injury ( P = 0.04). Medial meniscal lesions were more likely to be repaired when surgery was performed <3 months after injury (91%). Subjective follow-up data were available for 132 patients, and 19 were lost to follow-up. At 6.0 ± 2.6 years, 6% of patients underwent ACL revision; 1 of 20 (5%) patients with posterior tibial slope ≥12° and 4 of 45 (9%) patients with Tegner level ≥8. Nine new meniscal procedures were performed; 19% of repaired menisci underwent meniscectomy. Good or excellent Lysholm score was reported by 88% of patients; 56% of patients with concurrent lateral meniscectomy had pain during activity, 91% returned to sport, and 79% were still participating at final follow-up. Conclusion: Patients younger than 16 years undergoing ACL reconstruction within 3 months from injury had the lowest rate of meniscal injuries. ACL reconstruction with lateral tenodesis had low revision rate (6%) and good or excellent clinical outcomes in 88% of young adolescents. Clinical Relevance: Sport physicians should be aware that adolescent patients undergoing ACL reconstruction within 3 months after injury have the lowest rate of meniscal injuries; the mid-term revision rate of ACL reconstruction with lateral plasty is lower than 10% and the patients’ perceived outcomes are good with almost all patients returning to sport activity.

Return to Sport Composite Test After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (K-STARTS): Factors Affecting Return to Sport Test Score in a Retrospective Analysis of 676 Patients

Background: Return to sport (RTS) to the preinjury level is the main purpose after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction but the factors affecting the RTS are not completely known. Knee Santy Athletic Return to Sport (K-STARTS) is a composite test designed to assess readiness for RTS after ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To determine the key factors that influence K-STARTS scores in a large cohort of patients after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Case-control study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was undertaken. All patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery between March 2016 and May 2017 and also had a K-STARTS assessment at 6 months postoperatively were included. To identify factors influencing the K-STARTS score, an analysis of variance was performed. Age, sex, sports level, delay between injury and surgery, concomitant lesions, graft type, additional lateral tenodesis procedure, and participation in the RTS program were analyzed to identify factors influencing the K-STARTS score. Results: A total of 676 patients were included in the study. The K-STARTS score was significantly higher in male patients than in female patients (13.9 vs 12.4; P < 0.001), in younger patients (those aged <30 years vs older patients; 14.2 vs 12; P < 0.001), ACL reconstructions performed with hamstring tendon autografts compared with bone–patellar tendon–bone (13.5 vs 13.1; P = 0.03) and in those who completed a specific RTS program in addition to standard rehabilitation, compared with those who did not participate (17.1 vs 13.1; P < 0.001). However, the only factor that significantly influenced the K-STARTS score beyond the minimal detectable change threshold was the completion of the additional RTS program. The preinjury frequency of sports participation, whether the dominant limb was injured, time from injury to surgery, the presence of associated meniscal injuries, and whether a lateral tenodesis was performed did not significantly influence the K-STARTS score. Conclusion: Completion of a specific RTS program, in addition to standard rehabilitation, was the most important factor influencing the K-STARTS composite functional and psychological RTS test score at 6 months after ACL reconstruction. Clinical Relevance: This study shows that the completion of a specific RTS program affects positively the RTS test score at 6 months after ACL reconstruction.

Autograft versus allograft tenodesis for chronic ankle instability: a single-center retrospective comparative study

Aim: To compare the outcomes of patients who underwent autograft tenodesis with those who underwent allograft tenodesis for the treatment of chronic mechanical ankle instability. Patients & methods: Ten patients who underwent allograft lateral tenodesis were compared with 15 patients who underwent lateral tenodesis using a split peroneus brevis tendon. Patients were followed up after an average time of 10.5 years. Results: No statistically significant differences concerning American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and Karlsson–Peterson scores were reported (p = n.s.). A reduced average radiographic anterior talar translation was observed in the autograft group compared with the allograft group (1.4 and 4.0 mm respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both surgical techniques significantly improved subjective and objective outcomes in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability compared with pre-operatory status. Autograft stabilization provided reduced post-operative anterior talar translation compared with allograft tenodesis.

Extra articular lateral tenodesis in patients with revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and high-grade anterior instability

Aims and Objectives: While patients following primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery show satisfying results, the outcome after revision ACL reconstruction (ACLR) seems to be less favourable. Failure rates of 14 to 33% have been reported for revision ACLR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients after revision ACLR. We hypothesize that peripheral knee instabilities are risk factors for failure of revision ACLR. Furthermore, we hypothesize that peripheral stabilisation will reduce the risk of failure. Materials and Methods: Between 2013 and 2016, 150 patients were operated with revision ACLR (revision surgery after primary ACL reconstruction). Out of these patients, 73 patients preoperative had a high-grade anterior instability and were included in the retrospective study. High-grade knee anterior instability was defined as high-grade pivot-shift and/or side- to- side difference of more than 5mm in Rolimeter®-testing. An additional extra articular tenodesis was performed in 59 patients during revision ACLR. Patients were clinically examined with a minimum of 2 years after revision surgery (mean 35±6 months) and identified as “failed revision ACLR” and “stable revision ACLR”. Results: Failure of the revision ACLR occurred in 8.2% (n=6) of the cases. Extra articular lateral tenodesis leads to significant lower failure rates in patients with high-grade anterior instability in comparison to patients without further peripheral stabilization (5% vs. 21%, p=0.045). Also, higher postoperative functional scores were shown in the group of additional extra articular lateral tenodesis (Lysholm 89.5±17 vs. 69.5±12, p=0.041; Tegner 6.6±1.4 vs. 4.5±1.4, p=0.009; Cincinnati Rating Scale 91.2±14 vs. 68.5±17, p=0.006). Failure was associated with male sex (n=6 male failures, p=0.017) and obesity (n=4 obese failures with a BMI >30 kg/m2, p<0.001). Conclusion: Additional extra articular tenodesis in patients with revision ACL instability and accompanying high-grade anterior instability significantly reduces the risk of failure of revision ACLR. General risk factors of failure of the revision ACLR are obesity and male sex.

Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis with Iliotibial Band Strip – a Solution for Anterolateral Instability?

It is widely acknowledged that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is the cause of anterolateral insta­bility, but in some cases not only the ACL ruptures, but also anterolateral structures (ALS), including the antero­lateral ligament. Their insufficiency may be the cause of residual instability after ACL reconstruction, which significantly increases the risk of graft rupture. In the past, anterolateral instability caused by ACL injury was treat­ed with extra-articular reconstructions, including lateral extra-articular tenodesis. Nowadays those techni­ques are used simultaneously in cases of complex anterolateral and rotational instability. This article briefly describes historical methods of lateral tenodesis and presents step-by-step two techniques used in our depart­ments involving two alternative graft femoral fixation methods.