Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38300974›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

The optimal window for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with respect to quadriceps atrophies lies within 21 to 100 days.

Harald K Widhalm, Alexander Draschl, Jannike Horns, Sebastian Rilk, Johannes Leitgeb, Stefan Hajdu, Patrick Sadoghi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Harald K WidhalmDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinical Division of Traumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-9739-6176
Alexander DraschlDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-8344-7796
Jannike HornsDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinical Division of Traumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Sebastian RilkDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinical Division of Traumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Johannes LeitgebDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinical Division of Traumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Stefan HajduDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinical Division of Traumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Patrick SadoghiDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Medical University of Vienna · ATMedical University of Graz · ATHospital for Special Surgery · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe study's objective was to determine the optimal window for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with respect to quadriceps atrophies and clinical outcome.

methodsFor this retrospective, comparative study, 115 patients aged under 35 were included, who received an ACL reconstruction between 2011 and 2016. They were divided into four groups, depending on the time to surgery, to determine the optimal window for reconstruction: (group 1: ≤21 d, group 2: <21d-56d≥, group 3: >56d-100d≥, group 4: >100d). Follow-up was performed one month postoperatively, after a mean of 4.9 (±5.3) months, and after a mean of 3.5 (±1.4) years. Primary endpoints included quadriceps muscle status, range of motion (ROM), pain, swelling, the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC), the Lysholm-Score, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the Tegner-Activity-Scale (TAS).

resultsSignificantly more quadriceps atrophies were observed in group 1 and group 4, representing reconstructions earlier than 21 and later than 100 days (29% and 41% vs. 9%; p = 0.032). The measurements of knee extension (p = 0.082) and ROM (p = 0.123) were comparable in all groups. Group 1 showed the least pain (0% vs. 15%; p = 0.285) and swelling (0% vs. 23%; p = 0.077) compared to all other groups one month postoperatively. A comparison of postoperative clinical scores revealed no significant differences, with group 1 exhibiting the lowest TAS levels.

conclusionIn patients who underwent ACL reconstruction within three weeks or after more than 100 days, a significantly higher incidence of quadriceps atrophy was observed, possibly attributable to the initial inflammatory phase or the delayed reconstruction affecting quadriceps function. However, this impairment may not be observable in elite athletes who undergo reconstruction within hours of the injury.

Indexed as

Anterior Cruciate LigamentAnterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAgedAtrophyHumansKnee JointPainRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID38300974
PMCPMC10833555
OpenAlexW4391428625

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.