Treatment for acute anterior cruciate ligament tear: five year outcome of randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
In young active adults with an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, do patient reported or radiographic outcomes after five years differ between those treated with rehabilitation plus early ACL reconstruction and those treated with rehabilitation and optional delayed ACL reconstruction?


CONCLUSIONS
At five years, patients assigned to rehabilitation plus early ACL reconstruction did not differ significantly in patient reported or radiographic outcomes from those assigned to initial rehabilitation with the option of having a later reconstruction if needed.


BACKGROUND
The relative efficacy of surgical reconstruction and rehabilitation for short and long term outcomes of ACL rupture is debated. Clinicians and young active adult patients should consider rehabilitation as a primary treatment option following an acute ACL tear.
Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden.
Richard B
RB
Frobell
Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden.
Harald P
HP
Roos
Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Ewa M
EM
Roos
Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany Quantitative Imaging Center (QIC), Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Frank W
FW
Roemer
Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden.
Jonas
J
Ranstam
Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
L Stefan
LS
Lohmander