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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(13): 1071-1083
DOI: 10.1055/a-1755-4925
Review

Efficacy of Repair for ACL Injury: A Meta‑analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Zhuoyang Li
1   Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Orthopedics, Hangzhou, China
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Abstract

We aim to compare the curative effect of primary repair for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury with reconstruction and provide the reliable evidence for its clinical application. The literatures were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Springer, and other medical literature databases published between January 1970 and June 2021. Basic characteristics, surgery technique, clinical outcome scores and physical examination results were recorded and evaluated. Seven randomized controlled trials (RCT) were eligible for inclusion. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between arthroscopic ACL repair and ACL reconstruction for Tegner, Lysholm, Lachman, KT-1000, range of motion (ROM), functional outcomes and reoperation rate (P>0.05), even the result of IKDC scores showed that arthroscopic repair was better than reconstruction (P=0.04). However, through the subgroup analysis, it was found that the short-term follow-up results of arthroscopic ACL repair were indeed better than those of open ACL repair. Therefore, we can assume that the arthroscopic ACL repair technique is an optional and promising surgical method to treat ACL injury.

Key words

anterior cruciate ligament - primary repair - arthroscopy - reconstruction - meta-analysis - randomized controlled trial


Publication History

Received: 03 August 2021
Received: 26 January 2022

Accepted: 26 January 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
31 January 2022

Article published online:
03 June 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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