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- Talk
- 18/05/2021
- UK
Primary ACL Reconstruction in Professional Footballers: Factors Affecting Return to Play and Graft Re-Rupture
Description
This presentation, delivered by Ganesh Balendra, outlines the results of the largest study to date regarding primary ACL reconstruction in professional footballers. The study, conducted at the Fortius Clinic in London under the direction of Mr. Andy Williams, focuses on the factors influencing athletes' return to play and the rates of graft re-rupture. It highlights that advances in surgical techniques have led to a 95% return to play rate, which challenges the former belief that ACL injuries were career-ending.
The research involved a comprehensive retrospective review of 232 ACL reconstructions over 14 years, analyzing various patient demographics and surgical techniques. Notably, 96% of players returned to professional football, with 90% maintaining or improving their prior skill level. However, it also found that younger players (under 25) had a 99% return rate, while complications, such as dealing with medial meniscal repairs or subsequent surgeries, negatively impacted return probabilities.
The study assessed re-rupture rates across six cohorts based on graft types and techniques, revealing that patella tendon autografts typically performed better than hamstring grafts, particularly when placed in the anteromedial tunnel position—resulting in a significant drop in revision rates when augmented with a lateral extra-articular tenodesis.
In conclusion, Balendra emphasizes that while the vast majority of athletes can successfully return post-reconstruction, the type of graft and surgical alterations can significantly influence their recovery outcomes.