title: Survey study of members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association on the natural history and treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe current preferences and opinions of members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) pertaining to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All orthopedic surgeon members of the COA residing in Canada were invited to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary measure was a survey completed via an Internet-based survey manager. It was composed of 30 questions on the natural history of ACL-injured knees, and surgical and postsurgical treatment choices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred eighty-three surgeons (50%) responded to the survey. One hundred forty-four performed ACL reconstruction in the past year. In terms of natural history, the only area of agreement was that hamstring and quadricep strength affects function in ACL-deficient knees (92%). A majority of surgeons indicated preference for hamstring autograft (73%), transtibial versus anteromedial portal for establishment of the femoral tunnel (70% vs 28%), and promotion of full weight bearing and range of motion immediately after surgery (72% and 75%, respectively). The most frequent surgeon-reported complication was tunnel widening (10%). A greater proportion of high-volume surgeons permitted earlier return to sport (P < 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the rapidly evolving area of ACL reconstruction, no recent surveys of opinions and preferences of Canadian orthopedic surgeons have been published. In addition to providing information from a Canadian perspective, the findings from this study will allow surgeons to evaluate a range of treatment decisions based on the general opinions of their colleagues and also highlights areas of dissimilarity that can be targeted for more extensive research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pan Am Clinic, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. smcrae@panamclinic.com
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Jaskarndip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chahal
authors.forename: Jeff R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012955:Societies, Medical