title: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients over 50 years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical outcomes of patients over 50 years of age with following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)reconstruction for acute rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective series of patients over the age of 50 years with a diagnosis of ACL rupture who underwent ACL reconstruction was examined. Lysholm and International Knee Documenting Committee (IKDC) subjective scores were assessed preoperatively and at the final follow-up. All associated injuries were documented, and complications were reported. The patients' satisfaction and return to sports were documented. The statistical analyses were preformed with Student's t-tests for independent samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients with a mean age of 52.12 years (50-64) and a mean follow-up period of 53.17 months (36-68) exhibited a mean postoperative Lysholm score of 93.7 (60-100) and IKDC score of 90.96 (57.5-100). Associated injuries occurred in 90% (45) of the patients and included the following: 76% (38) meniscal tears and 36% (18) osteochondral lesions. Complications occurred in 6% (3) of the patients and included the following: 4% (2) ACL re-ruptures and 2% (1) infections. Among all patients, 88% (44) returned to pre-injury sports levels, and 96% (48) were satisfied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients above the age of 50 years, ACL reconstruction appears to be a safe procedure with good to excellent results that are comparable to those for younger patients, and the possibility for returning to pre-injury sports levels for these patients is high.
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: franciscofigueroab@gmail.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaisman
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: Knee Surgery Unit, Orthopaedics and Traumatology Department, Clínica Alemana - Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gili
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: 50years; ACL; ACL reconstruction; Anterior cruciate ligament; Older patients