Prospective trial of a treatment algorithm for the management of the anterior cruciate ligament-injured knee.
BACKGROUND
Specific guidelines for operative versus nonoperative management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries do not yet exist.


OBJECTIVE
Surgical risk factors can be used to indicate whether reconstruction or conservative management is best for an individual patient.


METHODS
Prospective nonrandomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 2.


METHODS
Patients were classified as high, moderate, or low risk using preinjury sports participation and knee laxity measurements. Early anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (within 3 months of injury) was recommended to high-risk patients and conservative care to low-risk patients. It was recommended that moderate-risk patients have either early reconstruction or conservative care, according to the day of presentation. Assessment of subjective outcomes, activity, physical measurements, and radiographs was performed at mean follow-up of 6.6 years.


RESULTS
Early phase conservative management resulted in more late phase meniscus surgery than did early phase reconstruction at all risk levels (high risk, 25% vs 6.5%; moderate risk, 37% vs 7.7%, P = .01; low risk, 16% vs 0%). Early- and late-reconstruction patients' Tegner scores increased from presurgery to follow-up (P < .001) but did not return to preinjury levels. Early-reconstruction patients had higher rates of degenerative change on radiographs than did nonreconstruction patients (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early phase reconstruction reduced late phase knee laxity, risk of symptomatic instability, and the risk of late meniscus tear and surgery. Moderate- and high-risk patients had similar rates of late phase injury and surgery. Reconstruction did not prevent the appearance of late degenerative changes on radiographs. Relationship between bone contusion on initial magnetic resonance images and the finding of degenerative changes on follow-up radiographs were not detected. The treatment algorithm used in this study was effective in predicting risk of late phase knee surgery.
Fithian
Donald C
DC
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, 250 Travelodge Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020, USA. donald.c.fithian@kp.org
Paxton
Elizabeth W
EW
Stone
Mary Lou
ML
Luetzow
William F
WF
Csintalan
Rick P
RP
Phelan
Daniel
D
Daniel
Dale M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors