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Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McDevitt, ER; Taylor, DC; Miller, MD; Gerber, JP; Ziemke, G; Hinkin, D; Uhorchak, JM; Arciero, RA; Pierre, PS
Published in: Am J Sports Med
December 2004

BACKGROUND: Bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is expensive and is not proven to prevent injuries or influence outcomes. PURPOSE: To determine whether postoperative functional knee bracing influences outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial. METHODS: One hundred volunteers from the 3 US service academies with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears were randomized into braced or nonbraced groups. Only those subjects with anterior cruciate ligament tears treated surgically within the first 8 weeks of injury were included. Patients with chondral injuries, significant meniscal tears, or multiple knee ligament injuries were excluded. Surgical procedures and the postoperative physical therapy protocols were identical for both groups. The braced group was instructed to wear an off-the-shelf functional knee brace for all cutting, pivoting, or jumping activities for the first year after surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-five subjects were available with a minimum 2-year follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in knee stability, functional testing with the single-legged hop test, International Knee Documentation Committee scores, Lysholm scores, knee range of motion, or isokinetic strength testing. Two braced subjects had reinjuries, and 3 nonbraced subjects had reinjuries. CONCLUSIONS: In this young, active population, postoperative bracing does not appear to change the clinical outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

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Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

December 2004

Volume

32

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1887 / 1892

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Prospective Studies
  • Postoperative Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Knee Injuries
  • Joint Instability
  • Humans
 

Citation

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McDevitt, E. R., Taylor, D. C., Miller, M. D., Gerber, J. P., Ziemke, G., Hinkin, D., … Pierre, P. S. (2004). Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study. Am J Sports Med, 32(8), 1887–1892. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504265998
McDevitt, Edward R., Dean C. Taylor, Mark D. Miller, John P. Gerber, Gregg Ziemke, Daniel Hinkin, John M. Uhorchak, Robert A. Arciero, and Patrick St Pierre. “Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.Am J Sports Med 32, no. 8 (December 2004): 1887–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504265998.
McDevitt ER, Taylor DC, Miller MD, Gerber JP, Ziemke G, Hinkin D, et al. Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Dec;32(8):1887–92.
McDevitt, Edward R., et al. “Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.Am J Sports Med, vol. 32, no. 8, Dec. 2004, pp. 1887–92. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0363546504265998.
McDevitt ER, Taylor DC, Miller MD, Gerber JP, Ziemke G, Hinkin D, Uhorchak JM, Arciero RA, Pierre PS. Functional bracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Dec;32(8):1887–1892.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

December 2004

Volume

32

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1887 / 1892

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Prospective Studies
  • Postoperative Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Knee Injuries
  • Joint Instability
  • Humans