Return to sports after ACL reconstruction: individual considerations

Excerpt

When, how and if ACL-injured athletes can return to sports is a very controversial topic [1‐6]. ACL injuries are still a major problem for the insured athlete and the society, in spite of the great number of research studies published. In fact, even though the number of studies appears to be increasing and our knowledge rapidly increasing as well, new research questions are more and more obvious and relevant. Today, probably the majority of ACL reconstructions are performed using anatomical techniques. And, there is no doubt that during the last decade, the scientific knowledge about injury mechanisms, biomechanics and relevant knee anatomy has substantially increased. We have also studies and accepted prevention as a natural part of the big picture. Today, we have also learned to better understand the term “individualised treatment”. This means that physicians better understand not only the injury mechanism and the knee anatomy, but also the patient who is injured, the requirements and the demands and what the individual athlete wishes to use her/his knee for. Does she/he want to return to sports, in spite of the inherent risk of a reinjury? Or are patients well enough educated about the long-term risks of developing osteoarthritis? And how relevant is it to take the long-term consequences into consideration? Most people like to live for today. Do athletes really care about what happens after 15–30 years? …