Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39931635›Full record

ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2025

Management of Isolated Partial ACL Tears: A Survey of International ACL Surgeons.

Christopher S Frey, Kinsley J Pierre, Nicole S Pham, Geoffrey D Abrams, Seth L Sherman, Tim Spalding, Marc R Safran

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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.

Christopher S FreyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.
Kinsley J PierreDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.
Nicole S PhamDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.
Geoffrey D AbramsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7600-5850
Seth L ShermanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.
Tim SpaldingDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic London Hospital, London, England, UK.
Marc R SafranDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Stanford Medicine, Redwood City, California, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, particularly injuries detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but stable on ligamentous examination, appear to be recognized more frequently; however, there remains no consensus management for this complex pathology. Purpose: To present the results of a survey of a group of international ACL experts on the management of partial ACL injuries. Study Design: Survey study; Level of evidence, 5. Methods: The ACL Study Group is an international group of orthopaedic surgeons with a special interest in the ACL. There are 169 members overall, with 135 clinically active surgeons. A branching logic survey was developed and circulated to members of the ACL Study Group via electronic mail. Categories included member demographics as well as recommended management strategies of partial ACL injuries, including recommendations on return to play. Results: Of the 135 clinically active surgeon members, 113 responded to the survey (84%). Nonoperative management of partial ACL injuries was selected by 92% of respondents. Of those who managed nonoperatively, 75% indicated they would not restrict weightbearing and 59% would not recommend a knee brace. When those who managed the patient nonoperatively determined criteria for return to sports (RTS), 33% would use differential knee laxity, 87% would assess functional testing, 26% would utilize imaging, and 40% selected time from injury. When using time as a guide for RTS, 13% chose RTS between 7 and 11 weeks postinjury, 56% selected no sport before 3 months, and 22% favored waiting 4 to 6 months before allowing an athlete with a partial ACL injury to RTS. With regard to function as a tool to determine RTS, painless Lachman, strength, swelling, and functional performance tests were all chosen by a majority of respondents. Conclusion: This study presented the results of a survey on partial ACL injury management administered to ACL Study Group active surgical members. The majority favored nonoperative management for partial ACL injuries (stable ligament examination but MRI changes in the ligament). Nonoperative treatment and RTS protocols varied and must be customized to the patient.

Indexed as

ACLkneeknee ligamentphysical therapy/rehabilitationreturn to sports

Identifiers

PMID39931635
PMCPMC11808748

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.