Early Functional Outcome After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients Using Post-Operative Brace or No Brace: A Prospective Observational Case–Control Study

Background

The use of rehabilitative knee braces after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has been controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the early functional outcome associated with post-ACLR brace use.

Methods

This prospective observational case–control study was conducted at AKB Center for Arthroscopy, Sports Injury, and Regenerative Medicine, B&B Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. A total of 132 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACLR with or without a meniscal procedure were enrolled in this study, with the final analysis consisting of 66 patients in the control group (brace group) and 66 patients in the case group (no brace group). Braces were applied to the affected lower limb in the control group in the operating room immediately after surgery and were continued for 4 weeks post-operatively. The rehabilitation protocol was the same for both groups. The patients were evaluated on the 3rd post-operative day, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks post-operatively in terms of Lysholm knee scores, clinical tests (Lachman and pivot shift test), range of motion (flexion and extension), VAS scores for pain, thigh girth differences, and the 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) scores.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding outcome measures, except the mental component summary of SF-12 which was significantly better in the non-braced group (P = 0.006).

Conclusion

There was no significant difference in early functional outcome between the braced and non-braced groups following ACLR with or without a meniscal procedure. Better SF-12 mental component summary scores were seen in the nonbraced group, which indicated possible mental discomfort in patients with brace use.