Healing of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and patient-reported outcomes following non-surgical management with a novel bracing protocol

Abstract

Introduction: A common belief amongst clinicians, researchers and the public is that a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has no healing capacity. This belief has contributed to the high rate of ACL reconstruction, with substantial health costs. We hypothesised that immobilisation in a knee brace at 90-degrees flexion (reducing the distance between the torn ends of the ACL) after acute ACL rupture would facilitate healing. The objective was to investigate MRI evidence of ACL healing, patient-reported outcomes and knee laxity in the first 80 individuals with ACL rupture managed with a novel non-surgical bracing protocol.