2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1261

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life (ACL-QOL) Questionnaire: Responsiveness to Change up to Two Years Post ACL Reconstruction

Mark Lafave, PhD, Calgary, Alberta CANADA
S. Mark A. Heard, MD, FRCS, Canmore, AB CANADA
Laurie A. Hiemstra, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Banff, AB CANADA
S. Mark A. Heard, MD, FRCS, Canmore, AB CANADA
Greg Buchko, MD, FRCSC, Canmore, Alberta CANADA
Banff Sport Medicine, Banff, Alberta, CANADA

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: The ACL-QOL demonstrates statistically significant responsiveness to change from pre-operative assessment through 6-months, 12-months and 24-months post-operative.

Abstract:

Purpose

The ACL-QOL was originally published by Mohtadi in 1998, and has been cited in over 130 studies. The responsiveness to change of an instrument is one aspect of its validity. The purpose of this study was to further validate the ACL-QOL by assessing its responsiveness to change up to 2-years post anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery.

Methods

Five hundred and seventy nine ACL-deficient patients were referred to an orthopaedic surgical practice for consultation. All patients completed the ACL-QOL questionnaire pre-operatively. To date, ACL-QOL data has been gathered prospectively from this patient cohort at 6-months post-operatively (n = 446), 12-months post-operatively (n = 280), and 24-months post-operatively (n= 100). Comparison of change in ACL-QOL scores was calculated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for each time point.

Results

The mean ACL-QOL score for ACL-deficient patients presenting for an orthopaedic surgery consultation was 35.6/100, (n = 579). The mean post-operative ACL-QOL scores were 51.5/100 at 6-months (n = 446), 67.3/100 at 12-months (n = 280) and 81.5/100 at 24-months (n =100). There was a statistically significant difference in ACL-QOL scores from the initial orthopaedic consult, to the 6-month, 12-month and 24-month post-operative appointments, p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean ACL-QOL scores at 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively p < 0.005.

Conclusions

This study provides further validation of the ACL-QOL by demonstrating the responsiveness to change of this disease-specific quality of life instrument. Patients demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in ACL-QOL score following ACL reconstruction surgery.