title: Return to motor activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction--pilot study.
abstract: Background. Reconstruction surgery is the most frequent treatment for patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesions. The goal of the study was to present patients' subjective evaluation of their return to motor activity after ACL reconstruction and investigate whether and what demographic or clinical factors determine the recovery of physical function of ACL reconstruction patients. Material and methods. The study involved a group of fifty (50) patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. The mean age of patients was 32 years. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the patients. The first part of the questionnaire was concerned with personal and clinical data, while the second part was the KOOS form. Results. The incidence of unfavourable, post-operative symptoms was lower in elderly patients, as well as in those with longer periods between injury and reconstruction. The patients in whom the patellar ligament was used for the reconstruction demonstrated better outcomes as regards returning to sports and recreational activity than those in whom flexor tendons were used. The patients who returned to practising a sport reported more pain episodes and problems with daily and sports activities. Their quality of life was inferior to those who did not return to unrestricted sports activity. Conclusions. 1. Neither sex nor BMI has any statistically significant effect on the recovery of mobility after ACL reconstruction. 2. ACL reconstruction with a graft harvested from the central band of the patellar ligament appears to be more appropriate for patients willing to return to full sports and recreational activity. 3. It is better to carry our ACL reconstruction when normal knee joint function has been regained and injury-related symptoms have subsided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stańczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domżalski
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Synder
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Paediatric Orthopaedics, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sibiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult