Soccer players can return to their sport after revision ACL reconstruction, but the rate of participation drops significantly after surgery, according to a study presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Orleans March 6.
Here are six things to know.
1. This prospective study aimed to determine if graft choice and patient sex are associated with return to play and risk for future surgery in soccer athletes undergoing revision ACL reconstruction.
2. The rate of recurrent ACL graft tear was 5.6 percent out of 95 soccer athletes enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference between male and female athletes.
3. While the overall rate of recurrent ACL graft injury is low, BTB autograft may be a preferable graft to reduce the risk for re-tear; 0 percent of BTB autografts re-tore compared to 10 percent of other grafts.
4. At an average follow-up of 6.4 years, only 19 percent of soccer athletes who underwent revision ACL reconstruction still played soccer, a significant decrease compared to initial return to play. There was no significant difference in the long-term return to play between male athletes — 21 percent — and females — 18 percent.
5. Female athletes were more likely than male athletes to have additional knee surgery — 20 percent versus 5 percent of male athletes.
6. The majority of athletes — 72 percent — stopped playing soccer because of their knee at essentially the same rate for men and women.
More articles on sports medicine:
Dr. Keith Meister performing Tommy John surgery on A's pitcher Jharel Cotton — 4 insights