Is 12 months enough to reach function after athletes' ACL reconstruction: a prospective longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries significantly impact athletic performance, causing knee instability and functional deficits.
• While surgical reconstruction is common, it doesn't always fully restore pre-injury stability and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate postural balance, muscle strength, and functional performance in young athletes with ACL injuries.
• To compare outcomes before and 12 months after ACL reconstruction against a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal observational prospective study involving 74 athletes (34 ACL-injured, 40 controls).
• Evaluations included posturography, isokinetic dynamometry, and the Hop-Test.
• ACL group assessed pre-surgery and 12 months post-surgery; control group assessed once.

Main Results:

• Postoperative ACL group showed improved limb symmetry (0.96 vs. 0.87) and reduced postural displacement area (19.85 vs. 24.20) compared to preoperative.
• Isokinetic dynamometry revealed greater torque peak in the postoperative ACL group (0.91 vs. 0.74).
• All tested parameters showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• ACL reconstruction enhances functional outcomes 12 months post-surgery, but recovery remains incomplete compared to uninjured athletes.
• Findings suggest adaptive changes in postural control following injury and reconstruction, influencing return to sport.