The loss of knee range of motion (ROM) is not an uncommon complication after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, the risk factors of loss of knee ROM remain debatable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of loss of knee ROM at 12 months after primary ACLR performed after regaining full knee ROM preoperatively. Consecutive patients who underwent primary ACLR after regaining full ROM between January 2014 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received a surgical arthrolysis within 12 months after ACLR or those who had a loss of knee ROM at 12 months postoperatively were defined as the loss of ROM group. Possible risk factors of loss of knee ROM, including patient demographic, preoperative, surgical, and postoperative factors, were assessed. The notch wide index and radiographic parameters of the tibial spines; medial tibial spine height/tibial length (TL), lateral tibial spine height (LTSH)/TL, and tibial spine width (TSW)/TL, were also assessed. A total of 141 patients (141 knees) were included (mean age, 25.8 ± 11.4 years; male/female, 56/85). Of the 141 patients, three received surgical arthrolysis within 12 months, and 23 had a loss of knee ROM at 12 months after ACLR. On comparing patients with and without loss of knee ROM, significant differences were found in the age (p = 0.04), LTSH/TL (p = 0.02), and TSW/TL (p = 0.02). A multivariate regression analysis showed that the age (odds ratio [OR]; 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.09, p = 0.02), LTSH/TL (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01–2.1, p = 0.04), and TSW/TL (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65–0.97, p = 0.02) were identified as significant independent risk predictors of loss of knee ROM. This study showed that the incidence of loss of knee ROM at 12 months after primary ACLR was 18.4% (26/141). An older age, a higher LTSH/TL, and a smaller TSW/TL may be associated with loss of knee ROM at 12 months after ACLR.

Received: 06 May 2022

Accepted: 26 August 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
31 August 2022

Article published online:
30 December 2022

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