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- Talk
- 14/07/2021
- UK
Patients following Internal Brace Repair of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Do Not Show Deficits of Strength and Proprioception
Description
This presentation by William Wilson discusses a study on functional outcomes following ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) repair surgery compared to traditional ACL reconstruction using hamstring or patellar tendon autografts. Wilson introduces the topic by highlighting the gold standard of ACL reconstruction and its associated drawbacks, such as a rerupture rate exceeding 10% and a high prevalence of osteoarthritis in the long-term.
The study explores the re-emergence of primary ACL repair, where the native ACL is reattached and reinforced with an internal brace, allowing for earlier rehabilitation. It aims to assess recovery outcomes of ACL repair and presents findings from a sample of 20 healthy volunteers and 19 patients who underwent ACL repair or reconstruction surgeries.
Results indicate that while the reconstruction group displays lower patient-reported outcomes compared to healthy individuals, the ACL repair group shows promising recovery metrics. Assessments of knee laxity, range of motion, and muscle strength reveal significant deficits in hamstring strength and proprioception in the reconstruction group as opposed to the ACL repair cohort.
The study also includes hop tests for functional performance, illustrating that although both groups perform similarly in terms of limb symmetry index, the reconstruction group has a greater peak knee valgus angle, which could elevate the risk of re-rupture.
The overall findings suggest that deficits in strength and proprioception remain prevalent after ACL reconstruction, while ACL repair appears to mitigate these issues. The presentation concludes that ACL repair may serve as a viable alternative treatment in certain cases, and invites further consideration of this technique in clinical practice.