Safe Return to Play After ACL Reconstruction

Rothman Institute Orthopaedics

Status: Completed

Conditions: ACL Tear

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Safe Return to Play Following ACL Reconstruction Checklist

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04827264

KFREE16D.026

Details and patient eligibility

About

Recent studies report that as few as 44% of athletes undergoing ACL reconstruction were able to return to their prior level of competitive level of sports. Early return may predispose an individual to re-injury including graft re-tear, meniscal tears, chondral injuries, and contralateral knee injuries. Criteria governing clearance to return to sports after ACL reconstruction has been traditionally defined using time from surgery and one or two objective criteria, often solely isokinetic quad/hamstring strength. Several studies have suggested that historical criteria used to assess readiness to return to play (RTP) are insufficient in identifying individuals at risk of a re-injury. They advocate for additional functional and dynamic testing, which may better reflect the complex kinematics required in high level athletic competition.

We previously developed a "Safe Return to Play Following ACL Reconstruction Checklist" based on a systematic review of the literature and expert survey. Seven objective measures were developed as part of the checklist. The checklist is performed by a certified physical therapist trained in these performance tests.

The purpose of this study is to validate the utility of our "Return to Play Checklist" by evaluating our patients prospectively for return to play following ACL reconstruction by comparing a cohort of patient undergoing testing with the checklist versus "clinical judgement."

Enrollment: 222 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 35 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All patients ages 15-35 undergoing primary ACL reconstruction

Exclusion criteria

• patients who are undergoing revision ACL surgery

Trial design

222 participants in 2 patient groups

Return to Play Testing using Checklist

Description:

Participants will be evaluated prospectively for return to play following ACL reconstruction by testing with the "Safe return to play following ACL reconstruction checklist"

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Safe Return to Play Following ACL Reconstruction Checklist

Return to Play Testing using Clinical Judgment

Description:

Participants will be evaluated prospectively for return to play following ACL reconstruction by testing with clinical judgement