Surgical treatment versus conservative treatment for ACL rupture on female gymnasts: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An ACL injury is one of the most common and devastating sports injuries, and the incidence points to be much higher in females than in male counterparts. The incidence points to 2-8 times more likely to occur on female subjects . This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a Surgical treatment of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture compared with a Non-surgical treatment to evaluate the function level of the knee in order to reduce the time taken to Return to Play and the continuity of the sportive practice in female gymnasts in the long term. METHODS: This study is a study protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial, with repeated assessment at the beginning and end of the treatment posterior to the injury and a minimum of 5 years follow up of sporting activity. The inclusion criteria for the participants will be female athletes from different sport centers in Barcelona that suffered an ACL rupture, age from 14-19 due then during this period the risk seems to be at its peak with a level III of ACL injury. The treatment will be divided into “Control Group” (Surgical treatment of ACL rupture + Physical Therapy) and “Treatment Group” (Physical Therapy or Non-surgical treatment of ACL rupture). The outcomes will be measured with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaire and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury (ACL - RSI) to measure functionality and stability of the joint and the time that takes to reach this maximum level. DISCUSSION: It is expected to find higher levels of function on the Treatment Group with the Conservative treatment in order to achieve a decreased time to return to play, compared to the Control group that will follow a Surgical treatment + Physical Therapy. It is also expected to find that the Treatment group will have a greater percentage of individuals that keep practicing the sport in the long term