Multicenter Orthopaedics Outcomes Network for ACL Reconstructions
Condition: Rupture of Anterior Cruciate Ligament
MeSH terms: Rupture
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of modifiable risk factors on knee
      function, osteoarthritis, and re-rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) following
      ACL reconstruction.
    

Detailed description: 
      Disruption of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is among the most frequent musculoskeletal
      injuries affecting physically active men and women. An estimated 200,000 ACL reconstructions
      (ACLR) are performed annually, and the incidence of this injury is roughly 1 in 3000 per
      year. ACL injury has both immediate and long-term implications for an injured person's
      quality of life, their risk for osteoarthritis (OA), and long-term disability. Currently,
      ACLR is recommended as the standard of care following an ACL tear based on evidence for
      improved instrumented laxity, the desire to return to sports play, and evidence for a
      reduction in future knee injuries.

      In this research we propose to identify risk factors measurable at the time of injury/surgery
      in order to estimate the magnitude of the effect of these factors on important quality of
      life and clinical outcomes (e.g.,OA and incidence of additional surgery) 2 to 10 years after
      a patient's ACL reconstruction.

      AIM 1. To identify risk factors for reduced quality of life 2-10 yrs post-ACLR, from
      information available at the time of surgery; including the characteristics of the patients
      (age, gender, body mass index, activity level, clinical knee alignment) and their injuries
      (concurrent meniscus, articular cartilage, and collateral ligament injuries), and treatment
      decisions made during the initial surgery (e.g., graft choice, meniscus and articular
      cartilage treatments).

      AIM 2. To identify risk factors for symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis 2-10 years
      post-ACLR, from information available at the time of surgery; including the characteristics
      of the patients (as above) and their injuries (as above), and treatment decisions made during
      ACLR (as above).

      AIM 3. To identify risk factors for recurrent ligament disruption and additional arthroscopic
      knee surgeries of the ACLR knee, from among the characteristics of the patients (as above),
      their initial injuries (as above), and treatment decisions made during ACLR (as above).

      The overarching goal of this study is to establish evidence-based medicine practices of
      counseling patients on prognosis, guiding surgeons on treatment of meniscus and articular
      cartilage injuries, and post-surgical care, as well as the appropriate evidence for future
      interventional trials in the targeted subset of ACLRs with poorer outcomes.
    

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        All eligible ACL-deficient candidates scheduled for a unilateral ACL reconstruction at one
        of the participating MOON sites.
      
Keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament/injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/surgery; Knee injuries/surgery; Outcomes research; Prospective Studies