Summary

The study found that the type of graft used in ACL reconstruction (autograft or allograft) significantly influenced the duration of work disability following surgery

Abstract

Background

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical procedure to restore knee stability. Graft type, either autograft or allograft, is a critical factor influencing outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of graft type on work disability duration following ACL reconstruction.

Methods

We analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent ACL reconstruction at our institution between 2013 and 2023. Patients were categorized based on the type of graft used (autograft or allograft). Work disability duration was defined as the time from surgery to return to full work activity.

Results

This retrospective study analyzed 116 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery. Of these, 95 received an autograft, while 21 received an allograft. The average patient age was 34±16 years, with 18 (15.5%) female and 98 (84.5%) male participants. At the 12-month follow-up, no significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the Knee Outcome Score (KOOS) and Lysholm score. The KOOS scores were 87.02 in the allograft group and 90.08 in the autograft group. Neither group experienced instability or radiographic evidence of re-rupture. The allograft group demonstrated a significantly shorter operative time compared to the autograft group. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in work disability duration between the two graft-type groups (p = 0.017 based on the Mann-Whitney U test), work disability duration was shorter in allograft patients (mean of 125 days) compared to autograft patients (mean of 70 days).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that patients treated with autograft required fewer days out of work. Further research is needed to explore additional factors that may influence the return to work after ACL reconstruction and to develop strategies to optimize patient outcomes.