[Comparison of clinical results between middle-aged patients and young patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction].

OBJECTIVE:To compare the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients aged over 40 years and under 25 years at least 24 months follow-up after operation. METHODS:Fifty-seven patients who underwent ACL reconstruction for ACL rupture in Institute of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, from October 2010 to December 2012 were selected for this retrospective study.The patients aged over 40 years consisted of 13 men and 15 women with an average age of 46.5 years (range, 41 to 63 years). The patients younger than 25 years consisted of 19 men and 10 women with an average age of 21.0 years (range, 18 to 24 years). The average follow-up time was 26.0 months (range, 24 to 45 months). Clinical functional evaluation for all patients was performed according to Lysholm, Tegner and IKDC scores both before and after surgery.In addition, a pre- and post-operative arthrometric evaluation was also performed with KT-2000. RESULTS:The average postoperative Lysholm, Tegner and IKDC scores in patients aged over 40 years and under 25 years were 89 (74 to 100), 5 (3 to 6), 90 (70 to 100) and 94 (79 to 100), 5 (4 to 7), 93 (74 to 100) respectively.The average postoperative KT-2000 arthrometer anterior laxity in 30° and 90° in both groups was 2 mm (0 to 4 mm), 1 mm (-1 to 4 mm) and 2 mm (0 to 4 mm), 1 mm (0 to 4 mm) respectively.The postoperative functional scores and side-to-side difference improved more significantly than preoperative values, with no significant difference in both groups. CONCLUSION:ACL reconstruction provides the comparable clinical outcomes between middle-aged patients and young patients.