Quality of life after bilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of study was to analyze the influence of bilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions on life quality of patients and their return to sports activities. Material and Methods. Thirty-two operated patients took part in this survey during the period of ten years. There were 5 women and 27 men, their average age being 30.46 years (19-55). The participants answered a modified Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire set and gave data about preoperative and postoperative periods. Results. The participants? age and parameters of Lysholm scale did not correlate significantly with the subjective level of physical activity after the second knee surgery. After the first anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 4 participants (12.5%) did not return to trainings, while 28 did (87.5%); 8 patients (25%) did not return to competitions and 24 of them (75%) achieved the competition level of sports activities. After the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of contralateral knee, 6 (18.8%) did not return to trainings, while 26 (81.3%) did; 15 patients (46.9%) did not return to competitions, while 17 (53.1%) continued to compete without restrictions. The average values of questionnaire scores were between 95.1-98.2 points. Discussion and Conclusion. Resuming the same or higher level of sports activities after the first reconstruction is one of the preconditions for the same injury of another knee. An athlete looses more than two and a half years of competitions on average. Operations of additional meniscus ruptures do not play a crucial role in restitution of sports activities. Although we achieved good operative results, only every second athlete with bilateral injury has returned to sports activities without restrictions after the bilateral anterior cruciate reconstructions.