Overview

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main stabilizers of the knee, and its injury is among the most common soft tissue injuries of the knee. Surgical reconstruction of the ACL can be performed using various techniques and different types of tissue grafts, including both autografts and allografts.

Although ACL reconstruction is a widely performed surgical procedure in young and physically active individuals-typically patients under 30 years of age-to promote return to sports and prevent early onset of osteoarthritic degeneration, the surgical approach has historically been less common in patients over the age of 50. This is largely due to the lower functional demands typically observed in older patients.

However, with increasing life expectancy and a corresponding rise in functional demands among older individuals, the surgical approach to ACL reconstruction has been progressively reconsidered in the over-50 population. Several recent studies have aimed to evaluate the outcomes of ACL reconstruction in older adults, showing promising results in terms of both recurrence rates and complication rates.

At the II Clinic of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, under the direction of Professor Zaffagnini, the preferred technique for ACL reconstruction is the "single-bundle over-the-top technique using gracilis and semitendinosus tendons, combined with a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET)." LET is an additional surgical step performed alongside ACL reconstruction, which has shown excellent results, especially in young patients at high risk of reinjury. Specifically, clinical data have shown that adding LET to ACL reconstruction can reduce the failure rate by approximately 30%, significantly improve knee stability, and enable a faster return to sports-all without increasing the rate of complications compared to the standard isolated ACL reconstruction technique.

Given these encouraging results in terms of safety and reduced failure rates, the combined ACL + LET procedure has historically been used at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute for all patients, including those over 50 years of age.

The consistent use of this technique allows for the creation of a homogeneous patient cohort, all treated with the same surgical approach. This also enables the formation of two comparable patient groups-one over 50 and one under 30-both treated with the same technique, allowing for a meaningful comparison of primary and secondary endpoints.

While several studies have aimed to compare ACL reconstruction outcomes in older populations with those in younger cohorts, to date, there are no studies in the literature that specifically assess the outcomes and complication rates of ACL reconstruction using the over-the-top technique combined with LET in patients over 50, and compare them with those of younger patients undergoing the same surgical procedure.

Given the growing demand for ACL reconstruction in older patients, we believe it is important to evaluate outcomes in patients over 50 and compare them with a younger cohort, to determine whether the over-the-top + LET technique may be a valid therapeutic option not only for young patients but also for older adults.

Of particular interest is the assessment of the reduced risk of failure and complication rate of the ACL + LET technique performed in over-50 patients, to determine whether the excellent clinical outcomes observed in younger individuals are also confirmed in an older population.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients operated on between 2007 and 2023 who were over 50 years old at the time of surgery (study group) and patients under 30 years old at the time of surgery (control group).
• Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons with the over-the-top + LET technique.
• Patients of both male and female sex.
• Patients who have provided consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous surgery on the same limb (meniscectomy, prior ACL reconstruction, surgically treated fractures, osteotomies, meniscal transplants).
• Concomitant surgery on the same limb (osteotomies, meniscal transplants).
• Surgical technique different from the over-the-top with LET using autologous gracilis and semitendinosus tendons.
• Other concomitant ligament injuries requiring surgical treatment.
• Patients younger than 18 years at the time of surgery (minors) or patients aged between 30 and 50 years at the time of surgery.
• Patients who have not provided informed consent.
• Patients with a follow-up period shorter than 2 years.