Sex-based differences in physical and psychological recovery, and return to sport, following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND: A robust comparison of the recovery pathway between sexes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is lacking. This study investigated sex-based differences in physical and psychological recovery, and return to sport (RTS), after ACLR.

METHODS: 104 community-level patients underwent ACLR. Patients were evaluated at 6-, 12- and 24-months with the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport after Injury Scale (ACL-RSI), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), a 4-hop test battery including the 6-meter timed hop (6MTH) and the single (SHD), triple (THD) and triple crossover (TCHD) hop tests for distance, and peak isokinetic knee extensor and flexor torque. Sex-based differences were assessed, while regression analysis modelled the relationship between patient characteristics and outcomes, with 24-month psychological readiness to RTS.

RESULTS: All PROMS improved (p < 0.05), with males reporting higher 24-month ACL-RSI (p = 0.002), IKDC (p = 0.007) and TAS (p = 0.005) scores. A greater percentage of males returned to pivoting sports at 24 months (p = 0.030, males 60.0%, females 40.8%). Males demonstrated higher knee extensor strength LSIs at 6 (p = 0.037) and 24 (p = 0.047) months, and higher knee flexor strength LSIs at 6 (p = 0.007) and 12 (p = 0.002) months. IKDC knee scores (β = 24.9; 95% CI, 10.8 to 35.0), male sex (β = 12.2; 95% CI, 3.9 to 20.4) and the 6MTH LSI (β = 1.31; 95% CI, 0.6 to 2.1) were associated with the ACL-RSI.

CONCLUSIONS: In community-level ACLR patients, females demonstrated lower physical performance recovery, subjective function and psychological readiness, as well as a lower rate of RTS.