The Effect of Depression on Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement and Information System Computer Adaptive Test (PROMIS-CAT) scores and Return-to-Sport following ACL Reconstruction

Objectives: Depression has been shown to have a negative effect on many orthopaedic surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative clinical diagnosis of depression and/or PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Depression scores predicted worse postoperative therapy compliance, functional outcomes, and return-to-sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: A multi-surgeon series of consecutive patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction at a single institution between 1/4/16 and 7/19/16 were evaluated for inclusion. Patients who had completed preoperative PROMIS Depression (D), Physical Function (PF), and Pain Interference (PI) questionnaires were prospectively enrolled to complete minimum 2-year follow-up PROMIS and Return-to-Sport (ACL-RSI short-form) questionnaires. Chart review was conducted to determine depression diagnosis status, demographic data, and rehabilitation physical therapy (PT) compliance. PROMIS D score cutoff for mild depression was >52.5, based on previously established correlation to the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: Ninety-five of 115 consecutive patients (81%) met inclusion criteria. Average follow-up was 34+/-1.9 months. Fourteen patients (15%) carried a clinical diagnosis of depression. Thirty-two (34%) had a preoperative PROMIS D score above the mild depression threshold; of those, 2 (2%) scored in the moderate depression range, and 3 (3%) scored in the severe depression range. Overall, the cohort (including depressed patients) showed improvement in PROMIS PF and PI scores postoperatively (p52.5) and undiagnosed depression patients (subgroup of preoperative PROMIS depressed without depression diagnosis) showed no difference in PT compliance or postoperative PROMIS PF or PI, compared to non-depressed patients (Table 2). Undiagnosed preoperative depressed patients (n=21/95 (22%)) also showed improvement in their depression scores posto