Return to sport and patient reported outcomes in athletes participating in martial arts after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at mean follow-up of 12 years.

Purpose: This study aims to assess anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) outcomes and return to pre-injury sports (RTPS) characteristics in athletes participating in martial arts. Methods: Martial arts athletes over the age of 14 years who underwent primary ACLR with a minimum 1-year follow-up were eligible for this study. This study defined RTPS as reaching pre-injury levels of martial arts participation. Patients completed a questionnaire assessing sports participation, reinjury, and patient reported outcomes (PROs) including International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC SKF), Marx activity score, Tegner activity scale, and visual analogue scale (VAS). Demographics, surgical data, and preoperative PROs were collected retrospectively. Patients were grouped into those who achieved RTPS and those who did not. Statistical analyses included chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney Results: Fifty-two individuals who participated in martial arts (mean age 30.6 ± 11.0 years, 21% female) completed the questionnaire at a mean follow-up of 12.1 ± 7.8 years. Of the cohort, 35 patients (67%) participated in competitive, varsity, or elite martial arts prior to injury. Of those who did not return to martial arts at all, fear of reinjury was the most common reason. The rate of RTPS was 58%. Age, pre-injury martial arts participation (frequency and competitiveness), and surgical characteristics did not differ between groups. Those who did not achieve RTPS had a higher rate of minor and major postoperative complication (41% vs. 13%, Conclusion: Martial arts athletes demonstrated a rate of 58% return to pre-injury participation levels after ACLR. Level of evidence: Case series; level IV.