Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42101649›Full record

ArticleUnfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany)2026

[Return to sports after cruciate ligament surgery : Retrospective evaluation of the results of return to sports (RTS) testing after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in an acute care hospital].

Christoph Andreas Oratsch, Vinzenz Smekal

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Article in Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Christoph Andreas OratschAUVA, Unfallkrankenhaus Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Waidmannsdorfer Straße 35, 9020, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich. christoph.oratsch@auva.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1925-0205
Vinzenz SmekalAUVA, Unfallkrankenhaus Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Waidmannsdorfer Straße 35, 9020, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis retrospective study investigates functional fitness and return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction at an acute care hospital. ACL injury often leads to functional knee impairment. Modern rehabilitation focuses on individualized, functional criteria rather than fixed time intervals to ensure a safe RTS.

objectiveWhat is the functional and psychological status of patients approximately 1 year postsurgery based on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), ACL-RSI (RSI: Return to Sport after Injury scale), and RTS tests? Which factors influence the return to sport? MATERIALS AND

methodsA total of 149 patients (aged 18-60) with isolated ACL reconstruction were retrospectively analyzed using KOOS, ACL-RSI, and a standardized test battery (including strength, jumping ability, and balance). The Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) with a 90% cut-off was used for functional assessment.

resultsSignificant and clinically relevant improvements in pain, function, and psychological readiness were observed across all age groups, especially in sports participation and quality of life. Limited single-leg jumping performance, especially in middle adulthood, and functional deficits under fatigue proved to be key limiting factors for athletic performance. Return to sport was significantly influenced by subjective sports function and psychological readiness, which were strongly correlated (KOOS Sport-ACL-RSI: ρ = 0.56; p < 0.001), while objective functional parameters such as single-leg jump performance were moderately or weakly associated.

conclusionThe combination of objective tests and psychological evaluation is essential for a safe RTS. Rehabilitation should specifically address functional deficits in middle-aged individuals.

Indexed as

Anterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAnterior Cruciate Ligament ReconstructionReturn to SportAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRecovery of FunctionRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultAnterior cruciate ligamentKnee functionLimb Symmetry IndexRehabilitationReturn to sport

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.