title: Factors associated with excellent 6-month functional and isokinetic test results following ACL reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify patient concomitant injury and surgical characteristics associated with 6-month excellent functional and isokinetic testing results following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients that underwent ACL reconstruction by a single surgeon had isokinetic and functional testing performed with excellent 6-month outcome defined as greater than 85 % in isokinetic strength and 90 % in functional tests (excellent 6-month group vs. delayed 6-month group). Patient concomitant injury and surgical factors were then analysed in univariate and multivariate statistical models to assess which characteristics predicted the excellent 6-month group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 224 patients included 93 males and 131 females, with median age of 22 (range 12-59) years, body mass index (BMI) of 25.4 (range 17-44), and median Tegner activity score of 6 (range 2-10). Fifty-two patients (23 %) were included in the excellent 6-month group, while 172 patients (77 %) were in the delayed 6-month group. In univariate analysis, favourable factors with the excellent 6-month outcome group were younger age (24 vs. 27; p = 0.01), lower BMI (24.5 vs. 26.2; p = 0.03), and minimal articular cartilage damage (71 vs. 56 %; p = 0.048). In multivariate analysis, a negative effect was observed for patients older than 30 years that had ACL reconstruction with autograft (p = 0.0004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors significantly associated with excellent 6-month functional and isokinetic test results following ACL reconstruction included younger age, lower BMI, and minimal cartilage degeneration. The use of allograft was associated with improved functional and strength testing after ACL reconstruction in patients over 30 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic/therapeutic study, Level III.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors: Aaron J
authors: AJ
authors: Krych
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Woodcock
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Morgan
authors: Bruce A
authors: BA
authors: Levy
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Stuart
authors: Diane L
authors: DL
authors: Dahm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007551:Isotonic Contraction; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult