Table 2

Participant characteristics

All participants (n=80)Evidence of ACL healing on 3 month MRI
ACLOAS grade 1 (n=40)ACLOAS grades 2–3
(n=40)
Age at injury (SD)26 (10)27 (10)26 (10)
Sex (% female)31 (39)14 (35)16 (40)
Time from injury to brace (days)8 (7)6 (4)8 (7)
Used private health insurance55 (69)27 (68)27 (68)
Level of pre-injury sport
 Recreational28 (35)13 (33)15 (38)
 Competitive49 (61)25 (63)23 (58)
 Professional4 (5)2 (5)2 (5)
Contact mechanism of injury24 (30)17 (43)7 (18)
History of contralateral ACL injury8 (10)3 (8)5 (13)
Adherent to bracing protocol77 (96)37 (93)39 (98)
PRP injection14 (18)5 (13)9 (23)
Concomitant injuries*
 MCL injury40 (50)17 (43)23 (58)
 Meniscal injury39 (49)21 (53)18 (45)
 PLC injury31 (39)20 (50)11 (28)
 Bone contusion74 (93)38 (95)35 (88)
 Chondral injury1 (1)1 (3)0 (0)
 Subcortical fracture6 (8)3 (8)3 (8)
ACL rupture characteristics*
ACL femoral origin intact:36 (45)33 (83)3 (8)
Displacement of ACL tissue†17 (21)14 (35)2 (5)
Partial avulsion of femoral origin:44 (55)7 (18)37 (93)
Displacement of ACL tissue†33 (41)4 (10)29 (73)
Complete avulsion of femoral origin0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)
  • Data are reported as mean (SD) or count (proportion).

  • For the two participants with missing 3-month MRI data, ACLOAS was estimated using ACLOAS from 6-month MRI (70 out of 75 (93%) participants with 6-month MRI data had the same ACLOAS at 3 months and 6 months).

  • *Concomitant injuries and ACL rupture characteristics were assessed by MRI within 3 weeks of acute ACL rupture.

  • †ACL tissue is displaced outside the boundaries of the intercondylar notch;.

  • ACLOAS, Anterior Cruciate Ligament OsteoArthritis Score; MCL, medial collateral ligament; PLC, posterior lateral corner; PRP, platelet rich plasma.