DETERMINANTS OF RETURN TO PLAY AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Objective To systematically review and meta-analyze the performance of return to play (RTP) and non-RTP patients in different assessment tools after anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLR). Methods Out of 182 studies searched on PubMed, 11 presented RTP and non-RTP groups assessing the performance of young individuals, practitioners of different sports, with different tools. Results There was higher limb symmetry (7.13% [95%CI 4.55; 9.70], p < 0.001), Tegner activity scale (2.41 [95%CI 0.18; 4.64], p = 0.03), functional scores such as International Knee Documentation Committee (x7.44 [95%CI 4.69; 10.19], p < 0.001), Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome score for quality of life (14.75 [95%CI 10.96; 18.54], p < 0.001) and for sports/recreation (11.86 [95%CI 8.87; 14.86], p < 0.001); and lower knee laxity (-0.25 mm [95%CI -0.36; -0.14], p < 0.001) in RTP compared to non-RTP patients following ACLR. Conclusion We confirmed that these different tools can differentiate RTP for non-RTP patients, which may contribute to the physician's decision about the ideal time for RTP. Level of Evidence III, Systematic review of Level III studies.