Return to Sport Following ACL Repair: A Systematic Review (01/26)
Abstract: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common sports-related knee injuries, affecting athletes across varying levels of competition. ACL repair procedures have become a popular treatment option to repair these lesions. There is a need for a comprehensive analysis of recent studies among a growing body of literature to better understand return to sport (RTS), return to previous level (RPL), and timing of RTS following these procedures. A systematic review was performed using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases was performed on October 11, 2024. Two independent reviewers screened 2,098 articles. The inclusion criteria included studies from 2000 to the present, a minimum of 12-month follow-up, level of evidence (LOE) I to IV, English language, and reported outcomes after ACL repair procedures with RTS data. Data were stratified by ACL repair technique for subgroup analysis.