Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39529589›Full record

SynthesisKnee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA2025

Reducing ACL injury risk: A meta-analysis of prevention programme effectiveness.

Clemens Clar, Stefan F Fischerauer, Andreas Leithner, Laura Rasic, Paul Ruckenstuhl, Patrick Sadoghi

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Reducing ACL injury risk: A meta-analysis of prevention programme effectiveness.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2025
    Pooled it
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

6 authors.

Clemens ClarDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-7599-7621
Stefan F FischerauerDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6842-4526
Andreas LeithnerDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Laura RasicDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Paul RuckenstuhlDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Patrick SadoghiDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of the literature regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programmes (IPPs) in order to assess the effectiveness of ACL prevention programmes based on current high-quality studies. The hypothesis was that the implementation of ACL IPPs significantly reduces the incidence of ACL ruptures compared to standard practice.

methodsA meta-analysis of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINHAL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search terms utilized were ACL, injury, knee, control and prevention. The collected data and reported clinical outcomes were independently gathered by three different individuals. After evaluating the heterogeneity of the studies, the DerSimonian-Laird random effects models were employed to determine the pooled risk ratios (RRs) and the risk differences (RDs) regarding ACL Injuries. The RD was utilized to ascertain the number needed to treat.

resultsThe search strategy identified 743 studies, of which 11 met all inclusion and quality criteria for pooled analysis. The total number of study participants was 16,316. The overall RR of sustaining an ACL injury in the intervention group was 0.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23 to 0.57) of the control group, showing a significant reduction in the ACL injury risk of the intervention group (p < 0.001). We identified an RD of -1.4% (95% CI: -2.4% to -0.4%) in favour of the intervention group. The number needed to treat in preventing one ACL rupture was 71.

conclusionIn conclusion, the study clearly demonstrates a significant positive preventive effect of training programmes concerning ACL injuries (p < 0.001). The pooled estimates indicate that such programmes result in a significant reduction of ACL injury risks (p < 0.001). Despite the moderate quality of the included literature, the results exhibit robustness. However, based on the literature examined, no definitive superior training programme could be identified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Indexed as

Anterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAthletic InjuriesKnee InjuriesHumansProgram Evaluationanterior cruciate ligamentknee injuryprevention programme

Identifiers

PMID39529589
PMCPMC12310081

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.