Effect of Age and Sex on Psychological Readiness and Patient-Reported Outcomes 6 Months After Primary ACL Reconstruction

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background: Successful return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) can be affected by a patient's physical and psychological state throughout the rehabilitation process. Purpose: To prospectively compare differences in patients at 6 months after primary ACLR with the ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) or pediatric (Pedi)-IKDC, Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (Pedi-FABS), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Psychological Stress Experiences (PROMIS-PSE) scores. Study Design: Prospective cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients enrolled were 8 to 35 years old who underwent primary ACLR and had their 6-month follow-up appointments between December 2018 and March 2020. Patients were divided into 3 age groups as follows: (1) preadolescents (10-14 years); (2) adolescents (15-18 years); and (3) adults (>18 years). Outcomes on the ACL-RSI, IKDC/Pedi-IKDC, Pedi-FABS, and PROMIS-PSE were compared according to age group, graft type (hamstring, patellar tendon, quadriceps, or iliotibial band autograft), and sex. Results: < .001). Conclusion: This study suggests that psychological profiles and subjective perceptions of knee function 6 months after ACLR may vary in patients of different ages and between the sexes. Preadolescent patients had better scores on a majority of patient-reported outcomes compared with adolescent and adult patients.