Epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Central India

Aim: To describe the epidemiological profile of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries at a centre in Central India. Methods: The present study was a retrospective record review of patients with ACL injuries over the last three years. Demographic data, mode of injury, body mass index and clinical presentation was noted. Extent of disability was assessed using Tegner score categorized as severe (<5), moderate (6-8) and mild (>8) respectively. Time delay between injury and clinical presentation was also noted. Pain was measured on a 10-point VAS scale. SPSS 17.0 was used to analyse the data. Chi-square and Independent samples 't'-tests were used to compare the data. Age of patients rangedResults: from 18 to 54 years. Maximum patients (44.3%) were aged 18-25 years. Mean age was 29.18±8.64 years. Majority of patients were males (78.7%), had moderate disability (60.6%), unilateral (91%) involvement and moderate pain (93.4%). Sports injuries (73%) were the major cause. Mean time gap between injury and clinical presentation was 11.24±8.21 months. Females as compared to males had significantly lower age (p=0.023), lower BMI (p=0.025), non- sports injuries (p=0.044), longer time gap between injury and clinical presentation (p<0.001) and lower mean VAS scores for pain (p=0.003). Sports as compared to non-sports injuries occurred in significantly younger (p<0.001), women (p=0.045) and lower BMI (p=0.005) patients and had significant association with severe disability (p=0.014), bilateral involvement (p=0.034) and early presentation (p=0.021). Sports injuries in young populationConclusion: were the most common cause with differences in epidemiology affected by gender and mode of injury.