title: Sports-specific differences in postsurgical infections after arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post-operative infection after arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a rare but severe complication, particularly for young and active patients. It is unclear whether the prevalence of knee infection is correlated with the type of sports or the level of performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2008 to 2012, the internal single-centre ACL registry of the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence Regensburg was retrospectively screened for sex, age, time between isolated primary ACL rupture and surgery, surgical technique, rate of infection after ACL reconstruction and the type of sports practised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 4801 ACL reconstructions had been conducted over 5 years, 4579 in amateur and 221 in professional athletes. After application of the exclusion criteria, 1809 athletes with ACL reconstruction were analysed regarding postsurgical infection and the type of sports practised. Professionals and amateurs did not significantly differ with regard to infection rates (n.s.) but in the timing of ACL repair (p < 0.001). Eleven of 1130 football players had developed postsurgical infection after ACL reconstruction (1.0%) in contrast to 557 skiers and snowboarders without infection (p = 0.02). The timing of ACL repair did not differ between the different types of sports (n.s.). Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis were the predominant detected bacteria. All patients were hospitalised and successfully treated with arthroscopic lavage and antibiotic medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACL infections showed sports-related differences. Athletes practising summer outdoor sports such as football had a significantly higher risk of infection after ACL reconstruction than winter sports athletes. No difference was found between professional and amateur athletes. Relevant prevention strategies for postsurgical ACL infections should consider influencing patient factors such as the type of sports activity and attendant circumstances.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. werner.krutsch@ukr.de.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krutsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zellner
authors.affiliation: Centre of Clinical Studies, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nerlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.|Sporthopaedicum Straubing/Regensburg, Straubing, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012865:Skiing; D012916:Soccer; D013177:Sports; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACL reconstruction; Football; Infection; Professional; Sports