Systematic Review
Sport-Specific Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2011.02.022Get rights and content

Purpose

Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been studied extensively in the literature, sport-specific outcomes have not been well-documented. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess sport-specific outcomes after ACL reconstruction in the literature.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify studies reporting sport-specific outcomes after primary ACL reconstruction. Included studies were required to have reported standardized outcomes after primary ACL reconstruction for a single sport or comparing between different sports.

Results

In total 8 studies conformed to all inclusion criteria: 2 Level II studies, 1 Level III study, and 5 Level IV case series. Only 1 study reported comparisons of standardized outcomes between different sports, whereas 7 studies reported standardized outcomes in a single sport. Return to activity was the most common sport-specific outcome reported and varied from 19% (soccer) to 100% (bicycling and rugby), although the methods of measuring this outcome differed.

Conclusions

Whereas return to activity after ACL reconstruction appears more likely for bicycling and jogging than for cutting and pivoting sports such as soccer and football, the literature on sport-specific outcomes from ACL reconstruction is limited with minimal data. Further studies are needed to report sport-specific outcomes and return to play after ACL reconstruction.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, systematic review of Level II, III, and IV studies.

Section snippets

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate outcomes among different sports in athletes after ACL reconstruction. We searched the PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases on September 18, 2010, using the following search criteria: “(ACL or (anterior cruciate ligament)) and reconstruction and (basketball or soccer or football or skiing or handball or baseball or volleyball or snowboarding or gymnastics).” The specific sports used in the search criteria

Results

A total of 308 studies met the initial search criteria. Their abstracts were reviewed, and 49 full-text articles were retrieved for further evaluation. Review of full-text articles resulted in 8 studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review (Fig 1). Two authors of this review performed quality appraisal of the 8 studies according to Wright et al.11 Table 1 summarizes patient demographics and clinical data from these studies.

Seven of the eight

Discussion

Outcomes from ACL reconstruction have been shown to depend on activity level.20, 21 Our systematic review found relatively sparse data on sport-specific outcomes after ACL reconstruction. As might be expected, patients appear to be more likely to return to activities such as bicycling and jogging after ACL reconstruction than to cutting and pivoting sports such as soccer and football. However, there was not enough evidence in the literature to test the hypothesis that return to competition

Conclusions

On the basis of the results of this systematic review, patients appear to be more likely to return to activities such as bicycling and jogging after ACL reconstruction than to cutting and pivoting sports such as soccer and football. There are relatively few data in the literature on sport-specific outcomes in athletes after ACL reconstruction. Considering the impact that such information may have on treatment indications and rehabilitation strategies for athletes, additional studies are needed

References (24)

  • A. Gobbi et al.

    Factors affecting return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon and hamstring graft: A prospective clinical investigation

    Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc

    (2006)
  • R.A. Magnussen et al.

    Cross-cultural comparison of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction in the United States and Norway

    Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc

    (2010)
  • Cited by (43)

    • Return to sport and knee functional scores after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: 2 to 10 years’ follow-up

      2018, Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology
    • Sparing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Remnant: Is It Worth the Hassle?

      2018, The Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science: Second Edition
    • Criteria for Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

      2018, The Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Reconstruction and Basic Science: Second Edition
    • Comparative Influence of Sport Type on Outcome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

      2017, Arthroscopy - Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery
      Citation Excerpt :

      Our understanding of the role of sporting type as a modifier of outcome is limited. A prior review on sport-specific outcome after ACLR8 identified 8 applicable studies. Based on an analysis of this limited subset of studies, the authors suggested that patients engaged in cutting and pivoting sports such as soccer and football had worse outcome while patients involved in noncutting sports such as bicycling and running were more likely to have superior outcome.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    The authors report no conflict of interest.

    View full text