The highlights, as I understand them:
-In November 2022, the principal investigator on this study published the results of a different study which found MRI evidence of ACL healing in 30% of patients who were randomized to physical therapy with optional delayed ACL reconstruction. [0]
-When an ACL is fully torn, the gap between the ruptured ends inhibits healing. Since the ruptured ends are in closest proximity at 90°-135° of knee flexion, this study investigated whether bracing the knee at 90° would facilitate ACL healing.
-This study lasted five years and involved 80 patients. All participants had full-thickness ACL tears (complete discontinuity of the ACL on MRI). The protocol involved four weeks of bracing the knee at 90°, followed by progressive brace adjustments that slowly increased knee range of motion. The brace was removed at 12 weeks.
-At three months, 90% of patients showed evidence of ACL healing on MRI. Moreover, MRI evidence of ACL healing was associated with better outcomes.
This is monumental.
[0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9872245/
-In November 2022, the principal investigator on this study published the results of a different study which found MRI evidence of ACL healing in 30% of patients who were randomized to physical therapy with optional delayed ACL reconstruction. [0]
-When an ACL is fully torn, the gap between the ruptured ends inhibits healing. Since the ruptured ends are in closest proximity at 90°-135° of knee flexion, this study investigated whether bracing the knee at 90° would facilitate ACL healing.
-This study lasted five years and involved 80 patients. All participants had full-thickness ACL tears (complete discontinuity of the ACL on MRI). The protocol involved four weeks of bracing the knee at 90°, followed by progressive brace adjustments that slowly increased knee range of motion. The brace was removed at 12 weeks.
-At three months, 90% of patients showed evidence of ACL healing on MRI. Moreover, MRI evidence of ACL healing was associated with better outcomes.
This is monumental.
[0] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9872245/