# Earlier Return to Soccer After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Concomitant Meniscal Repair Predict Better Outcomes 3 Years Postoperatively

## TL;DR

Soccer players who return to play sooner after ACL and meniscus surgery tend to have better long-term outcomes.

## Contribution

Shorter return-to-sport time predicts better psychological and functional outcomes 3 years after surgery.

## Key findings

- 82% of soccer players returned to their previous level of play after surgery.
- Shorter return-to-sport time was strongly linked to higher ACL-RSI scores.
- Younger age and quicker return to sport predicted better psychological outcomes.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate functional and psychological outcomes to identify successful return to sport (RTS) predictors after arthroscopic meniscal repair with concomitant anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction (ACLR) in soccer players.

Forty-three out of forty-six soccer players who underwent primary unilateral arthroscopic anatomic single-bundle ACLR with concomitant meniscal repair were available at follow-up. Postoperatively, knee function, generic health outcomes, and psychological impact were assessed using the IKDC, the SF-12, and the ACL return to sports after injury (ACL-RSI) scale.

After a mean follow-up of 34 ± 15.1 months, 82% of soccer players returned to their previous level of play. The mean time to RTS was 7.8 ± 1.6 months (range 6–12 months). A positive strong correlation between IKDC versus ACL-RSI (p < 0.001) was noted. The correlation was moderately positive between IKDC versus SF-12 PCS (p < 0.001), ACL-RSI versus SF-12 PCS (p < 0.001), ACL-RSI versus SF-12 MCS (p < 0.001), and weakly positive between IKDC versus SF-12-MSC scores (p < 0.001). Higher postoperative ACL-RSI scores were directly related to younger age (p = 0.036) and shorter RTS time after surgery (p = 0.027). The multivariate analysis confirmed the association between a higher postoperative ACL-RSI and a shorter RTS time after surgery (p = 0.043). Higher postoperative SF-12 PCS values were affected by a shorter RTS time after surgery (p = 0.005).

Higher postoperative ACL-RSI scores were directly related to younger patient age and shorter RTS time after surgery.

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