Return to Sport Rates and Clinical Outcomes Following Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction in Young Athletes of Bangladesh

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries in young athletes, often resulting in instability, decreased function, and prolonged absence from sport. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction has become the standard surgical intervention to restore knee stability and allow athletes to return to their pre-injury activity levels. This study aimed to evaluate return-to-sport rates, functional recovery, psychological readiness, and postoperative complications following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction in young athletes of Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: This observational study was conducted from July 2023 to July 2024 at Enam Medical College and Hospital, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Comfort Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh including 57 young athletes (16–30 years) who underwent primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction confirmed by clinical examination and MRI. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Result: Most participants were young male athletes (84.2%) with a mean age of 22.4 years and an athletic BMI profile averaging 23.6 ± 2.1 kg/m². Sports-related injuries were responsible for the vast majority of ACL tears (86%), with football being the leading cause (49.1%), followed by cricket (29.8%). Right-sided injuries were slightly more common (56.1%). Hamstring autografts were used in 77.2% of cases. At 12 months, functional scores improved significantly: Lysholm 54.8→89.6, IKDC 45.2→82.3, Tegner 3.1→5.8 (p < 0.001). Return-to-sport was achieved by 80.7%, with 54.4% returning to pre-injury level and 40.4% to competitive sport; mean RTS time was 9.1 months. Mean ACL-RSI was 68.4, with 33.3% reporting high fear of reinjury. Conclusion: This study concludes that arthroscopic ACL reconstruction offers good functional recovery and favorable return-to-sport outcomes in young Bangladeshi athletes. A total of 70.2% returned to their preinjury sport level, with marked improvements in IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner scores and an average return time of 9.1 months.