A prospective study of 3-day versus 2-week immobilization period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract 

Background

Aggressive early rehabilitation is recommended after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) using a patellar tendon–bone graft. However, rehabilitation after reconstruction of ACL using the multistranded hamstring is controversial. In this study, we compared the clinical results of 3-day immobilization after reconstruction of ACL using the multistranded hamstring, with those of 2-week immobilization prospectively.

Methods

A total of 30 consecutive patients with ruptured ACL underwent single-socket ACL reconstruction. 10 male and 5 female patients (mean age of 29.2±10.0 years) were prospectively randomized for a 3-day immobilization period, and 6 male and 9 female patients (mean age of 27.3±10.9 years) were randomized for a 2-week immobilization period. We measured the anterior laxity with a KT-2000 arthrometer, joint position sense, and thigh muscle strength at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.

Results and conclusions

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. We concluded that the post-operative 3-day immobilization period is preferable to the longer 2-week period in our rehabilitation program from the viewpoint of psychological load to the patients and the duration of hospitalization after ACL reconstruction using multistranded hamstring tendons.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, Immobilization, Multistranded hamstring tendons, Prospective study, Rehabilitation