Outcomes and Return to Sport After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescent Athletes

BACKGROUND: The number of adolescent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries is rising with increased participation in higher level athletics at earlier ages. With an increasing number of primary ACL reconstructions (ACLRs) comes a rise in the incidence of revision ACLRs. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of revision ACLR across a group of high-level adolescent athletes with at least 2-year follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A retrospective review of 21 adolescent athletes (age range, 10-19 years) who underwent revision ACLR with at least 2-year follow-up was conducted. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, Lysholm knee scoring scale, Tegner activity level scale, and modified Cincinnati Knee Rating System. Return to sport (RTS) and overall patient satisfaction were also assessed. RESULTS: < .05). Independent variables shown to have no significant relationship to PROMs or RTS included age, follow-up, sport classification, associated meniscal tears, revision graft size/type, and concomitant procedures. CONCLUSION: Revision ACLR can be an effective surgical option in adolescents participating in collision and contact sports, with good to excellent subjective outcome scores. At a minimum 2-year follow-up, a graft rupture after revision ACLR occurred in 14% of cases. Of the athletes attempting to RTS, 68.4% returned to their preinjury level of competition.