Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.
BACKGROUND
Bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is expensive and is not proven to prevent injuries or influence outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether postoperative functional knee bracing influences outcomes.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial.


METHODS
One hundred volunteers from the 3 US service academies with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears were randomized into braced or nonbraced groups. Only those subjects with anterior cruciate ligament tears treated surgically within the first 8 weeks of injury were included. Patients with chondral injuries, significant meniscal tears, or multiple knee ligament injuries were excluded. Surgical procedures and the postoperative physical therapy protocols were identical for both groups. The braced group was instructed to wear an off-the-shelf functional knee brace for all cutting, pivoting, or jumping activities for the first year after surgery.


RESULTS
Ninety-five subjects were available with a minimum 2-year follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in knee stability, functional testing with the single-legged hop test, International Knee Documentation Committee scores, Lysholm scores, knee range of motion, or isokinetic strength testing. Two braced subjects had reinjuries, and 3 nonbraced subjects had reinjuries.


CONCLUSIONS
In this young, active population, postoperative bracing does not appear to change the clinical outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
McDevitt
Edward R
ER
Department of Orthopaedics, Department of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, USA.
Taylor
Dean C
DC
Miller
Mark D
MD
Gerber
John P
JP
Ziemke
Gregg
G
Hinkin
Daniel
D
Uhorchak
John M
JM
Arciero
Robert A
RA
Pierre
Patrick St
PS
D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D001915:Braces / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome