Youth Soccer Players Undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Demonstrate High Rates of Continuation of Sport and Progression to Professional Level Soccer: A Seven Season Analysis in Twenty-Nine Brazilian Professional Soccer Teams

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the progression of youth male soccer athletes who undergo ACL reconstruction and track their progression from youth up to professional level play Methods 163 male players from 29 soccer teams underwent ACL reconstruction and were followed from 2015 to 2023. They were evaluated regarding category progression (under-13 to professional), type of graft used, presence of re- rupture, and return to sport/continuation of sport. Results Most injuries occurred in players in the under-17 (31.3%) and under-20 (47.2%) categories. A total of 111 patients continued playing after ligament reconstruction (68.1%), and 52 patients discontinued their careers (31.9%). Of the 163 athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction, 40 still play professionally (24.5%) and 71 are continuing participation in youth soccer and may still become professionals (43.6%). Among the professionals, 8 underwent an ACL revision reconstruction. The graft of choice in 77.3% of the reconstructions were the hamstring tendons. Conclusion Athletes from professional soccer teams who underwent ACL reconstruction while still playing in the youth teams of their clubs demonstrated a return to sport rate of 68.1%. Among players who returned to sport and became adult league professionals, 40 (83.3%) continued to play at the adult professional level, and 8 (16.7%) have discontinued their careers.