Establishing Normal Variances and Expectations for Quadriceps Limb Symmetry Index Benchmarks Based on Time from Surgery After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

The anticipated timeline for muscle strength as well as return to running and sports are some of the most common inquiries by patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Despite the popularity of this procedure, the answers to these inquiries are not well described in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the range of quadriceps strength percentage and function benchmarks at various points after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery based on sex, age, and graft. Design: Observational Cohort Study. Methods: Patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) were evaluated at various points after their surgery with handheld dynamometer assessments. Additional hop and balance testing was performed and patients were evaluated for clearance for running and sport via a physical therapist directed functional movement assessment (FMA). The progression of quadriceps symmetry throughout the postoperative period was examined with multi-level models, estimates of time to reach 70%, 80%, and 90% quadriceps symmetry were obtained from the fitted model. Results: A total of 164 patients were evaluated. Patients either received bone-tendon-bone (BTB) autograft (n=118) or BTB allograft (n=46) for their ACL graft. Average age was 31.1 years-of-age (SD: 13.6). Males undergoing ACLR using BTB autograft (n=53) were able to achieve 80% quadriceps symmetry earlier than females (n=65) (5.7 months vs 7.1 months), were cleared to return to run sooner (5.6 months vs 6.8 months) and passed an FMA exam earlier (8.5 months vs 10 months). Males undergoing ACLR with allograft (n=13) were able to achieve 80% quadriceps symmetry earlier than females (n=33) (3.9 months vs 5.4 months) and were cleared to run sooner (4.5 months vs 5.8 months). Conclusion: Patients undergoing BTB autograft obtain 80% quadriceps symmetry at an average of 5.7 months for males and 7.1 months for females. Individuals under the age of 25 obtain their quadriceps symmetry faster and are cleared to return to running faster than individuals over 25. Male sex is associated with decreased amount of time to obtain clearance for running and for full activity. Male sex is associated with decreased amount of time to regain quadriceps symmetry however this was not significant. Level of Evidence: 4 (Case series).

To brace or not to brace? How effective are knee braces in rehabilitation?

Since the clinical benefit of knee braces has yet to be defined, discussion about braces after reconstructive surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament remains controversial. The use of prophylactic braces in sport did not prove to be effective. In ACL insufficient knee joints, the operative treatment is preferred over the use of functional knee braces. Therefore, the postoperative rehabilitation presents the main application of braces. Modern operative techniques with an initial strong fixation of the ACL graft make a functional postoperative treatment without external fixation possible. In the presented metaanalysis of the literature about knee braces, results from clinical and experimental studies are compared. No published clinical data have shown that braces have any effect on postoperative outcome after ACL-reconstruction. Also, no evidence of a significant bracing effect could be demonstrated in the experimental in vivo or in vitro studies, except a limited stabilizing function for lower shear stress below the physiological loads. Consequently, the systematic use of braces in the rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction cannot be recommended.