Prediction of Patient-Reported Outcome After Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Cross-Section Study at King Faisal Hospital

Abstract

Background Anterior cruciate ligament tear is ranked among the most frequent sports injuries. Its reconstruction using arthroscopy is considered gold standard when surgical management is opted. PRO measures are paramount when quality of care is to be assessed. Various tools have been in place including Lysholm knee score. Some factors may impact the outcome hence our aim of assessment of predictors of PRO post arthroscopic ACLR. Methods

This was a prospective cross sectional analytical study done at KFH, K. Patients whom ACL were arthroscopically reconstructed from June 2016 to June 2020 were interviewed through a phone call and Lysholm knee score was calculated for each participant and categorized. Demographic factors, limb dominance, smoking, level of athletic activity and injury characteristics such as nature of tear and associated injuries were evaluated. Return to preinjury level of activities, period of physiotherapy and insurance status were evaluated. Results

A total of 136 patients participated in our study. The majority of the participants in this study were in the middle age and 84% were males. Ninety-seven percent of the participants do not smoke and 52% do their athletic activities for recreational purposes and 34% for competitive purposes. Majority had acute tear and the dominant limb was involved at 59%. Meniscal injury was associated at 53%. Majority of the participants did physiotherapy for at most 3 months at 39%. About 42% of the participants returned to their pre-injury level of activities. Using the Lysholm scoring for the ACL reconstruction recovery, 29% achieved an excellent score, good at 33%, fair at 28% and 9% had poor score. Conclusion

Majority of participants in our study were male with M: F ratio 5:1 and were below 40 years at more than 80%. Male gender, involvement in professional and competitive sport, 6 to 9 months of physiotherapy and having a chronic tear were predictors of good outcome. Involvement of non-dominant knee, multiligamentous injury and lack of preinjury physical activities were associated with poor results and finally; age, associated meniscal tear and insurance status had showed no influence on patient-reported outcome.