J Knee Surg 2016; 29(01): 074-079
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1396017
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Is Anterior Cruciate Reconstruction Superior to Conservative Treatment?

A. G. Dawson
1   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom
,
J. D. Hutchison
2   Department of Orthopaedics, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
,
A. G. Sutherland
3   Department of Orthopaedics, Deakin University Warrnambool Clinical School, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
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Publikationsverlauf

08. Juni 2014

11. Oktober 2014

Publikationsdatum:
01. Dezember 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Not all patients who have a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) elect to have surgical reconstruction. The aim of this study was to assess the short-to-medium-term results of patients who chose conservative management in comparison to patients who had reconstructive surgery within the same time period. Sixty-three patients with an ACL injury were retrospectively studied. Forty patients were managed, according to patient choice, with ACL reconstruction and 23 conservatively. Four validated questionnaires were used to assess general and knee-specific function in a cohort with a median age of 32 years and a median follow-up period of 38 months. Patients were matched on demographic variables except for gender. There were no statistically significant differences in the outcome measures, and the majority of patients would proceed with the same treatment in the event the control leg became injured. Patients who elect to have conservative management of an ACL rupture can achieve similar function and satisfaction to those who elect to have reconstruction. Until a large randomized controlled trial is conducted, patients need to be made aware of the merits of both management strategies and the lack of evidence of superiority of one over the other.

Note

This study was conducted at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.