Baseline characteristics (full analysis set)
| Rehabilitation plus early ACL reconstruction (n=62) | Rehabilitation plus optional delayed ACL reconstruction (n=59) | |
| Age, years (mean, SD) | 26.3 (5.1) | 25.8 (4.7) |
| Gender, male (N, %) | 50 (81) | 39 (66) |
| BMI (mean, SD) | 24.4 (3.2) | 23.8 (2.6) |
| Injured knee, right (N, %) | 33 (53) | 33 (56) |
| Physical activity level (TAS score) (Median, IQR) | 9 (7–9) | 9 (7–9) |
| Anteroposterior knee laxity, yes (N, %) | 61 (98) | 58 (98) |
| Meniscal damage on MRI (ACLOAS) at baseline, yes (N, %) | 21 (35)* | 13 (22) |
| Medial meniscal damage, yes (N, %) | 9 (15)* | 9 (15) |
| Lateral meniscal damage, yes (N, %) | 15 (25)* | 4 (7) |
*N=60 in the early ACL reconstruction group due to one missing baseline MRI reading and one lost to follow-up.
ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; ACLOAS, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Osteoarthritis Score; BMI, body mass index; TAS, Tegner Activity Scale.