Greater self‐efficacy, psychological readiness and return to sport amongst paediatric patients compared with adolescents and young adults, 8 and 12 months after ACL reconstruction

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in rehabilitation-specific outcomes between paediatric patients, adolescents and young adults within the first 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A further aim was to determine whether patient age was associated with an increased risk of not achieving symmetrical muscle function within the first 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Methods The patient data in the present study were extracted from the rehabilitation outcome registry, Project ACL. Patients aged 11–25 years registered for primary ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft between April 1, 2013 and November 23, 2020 were included. A total of 691 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study; 41 paediatric patients (females 11–13, males 11–15 years), 347 adolescents (females 14–19, males 16–19 years) and 303 young adults (females 20–25, males 20–25 years). Results The comparison between groups revealed that 70% of paediatric patients, 39% of adolescents and 35% of young adults had returned to knee-strenuous sport at 8 months and that 90% of paediatric patients, 71% of adolescents and 62% of young adults had returned to sport at 12 months. Paediatric patients also reported higher scores compared with both the other patient groups on the Knee Self-Efficacy Scale (K-SES) and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport after Injury scale (ACL-RSI) at 8 and 12 months. Conclusions A larger proportion of paediatric patients had returned to sport compared with adolescents and young adults 8 and 12 months after ACL reconstruction. Paediatric patients also reported higher self-efficacy and greater psychological readiness to return to sport at 8 and 12 months than the other two groups. No differences in terms of muscle function tests when comparing paediatric patients, adolescents and young adults were found. Level of evidence II.

Effectiveness of a rehabilitation protocol after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in returning to match rhythm: a case study of a professional soccer player

“…Individualized rehabilitation protocols are crucial to address specific athlete needs and goals . Symmetrical muscle function is highlighted as a protective factor against a second ACL injury (Thorolfsson, 2023). The decision on graft choice, such as quadriceps tendon autograft, can impact the return to pivoting sports (Goto et al, 2022).…”

Good physical function but reduced quality of life in children 3 years after ACL reconstruction

“…After a paediatric ACL injury, there is a focus on regaining good function, which is typically assessed 1 year after the injury. In a study from 2023, it was shown that 90% of paediatric patients had returned to sport 12 months after ACL reconstruction [43]. However, it is well documented that after an ACL reconstruction, children have a high risk of rerupture to the reconstructed ACL and of injury to the ACL on the contralateral side [7,32,44,45].…”