Background Although anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programs have been published, little is known about ACL reinjury prevention after ACL reconstruction. On the other hand, we have held educational lectures for patients before undergoing ACL reconstruction.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine if this lecture was effective in reducing the reinjury rate.

Design Retrospective cohort study.

Setting Clinical setting with competitive and recreational athletes.

Participants 452 patients that underwent anatomical double-bundle ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendons in our hospital between 2010 and 2012, participated in this study. Exclusion criteria consisted of bilateral ACL injuries and revision surgery. Two hundred fifty two patients (122 men, 130 women, mean age=27.8 years) who attended the lecture were defined as the intervention group. Two hundred patients (118 men, 82 women, mean age=26.5 years) who didn't attend the lecture were defined as the control group.

Intervention Knee anatomy, operative procedure, postoperative rehabilitation, and risk of reinjury were explained in the two hour lecture.

Main outcome measures Standard reinjury rate and the reinjury rate within one year after surgery were investigated and compared between the groups using the chi-square test (P<.05).

Results Reinjury occurred in 8 patients (3.2%) in the intervention group, and 9 patients (4.5%) in the control group. No significant difference between the groups was observed. Reinjury within one year after surgery occurred in 3 patients (1.2%) in the intervention group, and 9 patients (4.5%) in the control group. There was a significant difference between the groups (P=.029).

Conclusion Although no statistical difference in reinjury rate was observed between groups, the patients who attended the lecture had significantly lower rate of reinjury within one year after surgery than the patients who did not.