15 Years After ACL Knee Reconstruction, 84% of Male Patients Still Highly Active, Study Says

Science Daily

84% of males who had ACL knee (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction with a patellar tendon (the tendon that attaches the knee to the front of the tibia or shin bone) graft continue at a high level of activity 15 years later, according to a study presented March 13 at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Specialty Day in New Orleans, Louisiana

Additionally, these patients have not developed severe osteoarthritis and their knees remain stable.

“We have done this procedure for many years and this study looks at patients as far back as 17 years,” said Leo Pinczewski, MD, corresponding author and consultant surgeon at the North Sydney Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Centre, Wollstonecraft, Australia. “The results of this technique, which was new almost 20 years ago, were excellent at five years, outstanding at 10 years and still very, very good at 15 years. Patients went back to sport quickly, had an easy rehabilitation with no brace and were frequently walking straight away.”