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Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implementing the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Concept in Rehabilitation Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Published on: March 1, 2024
Single-Stage Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Experience With 91 Patients (40 Elite Athletes)
Nathan P White1, Kyle A Borque2, Mary H Jones3
1Park Clinic Orthopaedics, Melbourne Knee Centre, Kew, Australia.
Background:
The increased prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has led to an increased need for revision ACL reconstructions. Despite the growing body of literature indicating that single-stage revision ACL reconstruction can yield good outcomes, there is a lack of data for determining when and how to safely perform a single-stage revision.
Purpose:
To assess the outcomes, graft failure rates, and return-to-play rates of a decision-making algorithm for single-stage revision ACL reconstruction.
Study Design:
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods:
We reviewed a consecutive series of revision ACL reconstructions performed by the senior author between September 2009 and July 2016 with minimum 2-year follow-up. All patients were assessed, and decision making was undertaken according to the algorithm. Outcomes measured were further surgery, graft rerupture, re-revision, Tegner score, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). For the elite athlete population, return-to-play time, duration, and level of play after surgery as compared with preinjury were also determined.
Results:
During this period, 93 procedures were performed in 92 patients (40 elite athletes). Two 2-stage procedures were undertaken, leaving 91 single-stage procedures (91 patients) to form the basis for further study. At a mean 4.3 years (SD, 2.2 years) after surgery, there had been 2 re-revisions (2.2%) and 2 further instances of graft failure that had not been re-revised (total graft failure rate, 4.4%). There were 17 subsequent procedures, including 6 arthroscopic partial meniscectomies, 5 removals of prominent implants, and 1 total knee arthroplasty. The mean Tegner score was 8.02 before graft rerupture and 7.1 at follow-up. At follow-up, the mean KOOS outcomes were 79.3 for Symptoms, 88.0 for Pain, 94.2 for Activities of Daily Living, 73.6 for Sport, and 68.9 for Quality of Life. Of 40 elite athletes, 35 returned to play at a mean 11.2 months (SD, 3.6 months) after surgery.
Conclusion:
Single-stage revision ACL reconstructions can be performed reliably in the majority of patients, with good clinical outcomes, low rerupture rates, and high-return-to play rates, even in the elite athlete population.
