Time to return to professional soccer matches after ACL reconstruction

Abstract

After ACL reconstruction, accelerated rehabilitation allows professional soccer players to return to official matches within 4–6 months of surgery, but in many cases accelerated rehabilitation is impossible. This retrospective study investigated the variables that affect the time to return to competition of professional soccer players after ACL reconstruction. Between October and December 2002, a questionnaire designed for this study was administered to the players competing in the Italian First Division (Series A) who previously reported an ACL reconstruction. Among 479 players surveyed, we identified 38 cases of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (8%). The mean time to return to competition was 232±135 days from surgery (range, 76–791). In 12 cases (31.6%; group A), there was an isolated ACL rupture and these players returned to competition within 163±44 days after surgery (range, 76–231). Twenty cases were associated with one or more lesions (52.6%; group B), and these players returned to competition within 203±56 days after surgery (range, 146–329). Six cases reported complications after surgery or during rehabilitation (infections, swelling; 15.8%; group C) and returned to competition within 456±203 days after surgery (range, 233–791; p<0.001 compared to groups A and B). In this study, a fast (<4 months) return to competition was achieved only in three cases of isolated ACL rupture (8%). Accelerated rehabilitation (<6 months) seems to be possible only in cases of isolated ACL reconstruction or when only the medial meniscus is involved as an associated lesion. The time to return to competition after ACL reconstruction was independent of the surgical technique used and must be considered the consequence of the complexity of the injury to the knee.