Effect of knee bracing on clinical outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A prospective randomised controlled study.

研究概要

Eighty-four patients with ACL injuries were randomized to receive either a four-week knee brace (n=42) or no brace (n=42) after ACL reconstruction. The primary outcome of interest was the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. Secondary outcomes included the Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. Outcomes were measured preoperatively and at six months, one year, and two years postoperatively. Overall, results indicated that while both groups improved significantly in functional scores, the bracing group had lower Tegner activity levels (p=0.013) and no significant advantages in IKDC or Lysholm scores. These findings suggest that postoperative bracing may not provide clinical benefits and might even slightly reduce activity levels.