title: Pre-operative factors predicting good outcome in terms of health-related quality of life after ACL reconstruction.
abstract: The life situation of many patients changes after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and subsequent reconstruction, and this may affect their health-related quality of life in many ways. It is well known that the overall clinical results after ACL reconstruction are considered good, but pre-operative predictive factors for a good post-operative clinical outcome after ACL reconstruction have not been studied in as much detail. The purpose of this study was to identify pre-operative factors that predict a good post-operative outcome as measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 3-6 years after ACL reconstruction. Seventy-three patients scheduled for ACL reconstruction were clinically examined pre-operatively. The SF-36 and KOOS questionnaires were sent by mail to these patients 3-6 years after reconstruction. Predictive factors for health-related quality of life were investigated using a stepwise regression analysis. In conclusion, pre-operative factors, such as pivot shift, knee function, and range of motion, may predict a good post-operative outcome and explain up to 25% in terms of health-related quality of life after ACL reconstruction. Furthermore, it appears that the patients' pre-injury and pre-operative Tegner activity levels are important predictors of post-operative health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, NU-Hospital Organisation, Trollhättan/Uddevalla, Sweden. olle.mansson@vgregion.se
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kartus
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sernert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D055815:Young Adult