Greater self-efficacy, psychological readiness and return to sport amongst paediatric patients compared with adolescents and young adults, 8 and 12months after ACL reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in rehabilitation-specific outcomes between paediatric patients, adolescents and young adults within the first 2years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A further aim was to determine whether patient age was associated with an increased risk of not achieving symmetrical muscle function within the first 2years after ACL reconstruction.The patient data in the present study were extracted from the rehabilitation outcome registry, Project ACL. Patients aged 11-25years registered for primary ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft between April 1, 2013 and November 23, 2020 were included. A total of 691 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study; 41 paediatric patients (females 11-13, males 11-15years), 347 adolescents (females 14-19, males 16-19years) and 303 young adults (females 20-25, males 20-25years).The comparison between groups revealed that 70% of paediatric patients, 39% of adolescents and 35% of young adults had returned to knee-strenuous sport at 8 months and that 90% of paediatric patients, 71% of adolescents and 62% of young adults had returned to sport at 12months. Paediatric patients also reported higher scores compared with both the other patient groups on the Knee Self-Efficacy Scale (K-SES) and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport after Injury scale (ACL-RSI) at 8 and 12months.A larger proportion of paediatric patients had returned to sport compared with adolescents and young adults 8 and 12months after ACL reconstruction. Paediatric patients also reported higher self-efficacy and greater psychological readiness to return to sport at 8 and 12months than the other two groups. No differences in terms of muscle function tests when comparing paediatric patients, adolescents and young adults were found.II.