Return to Play to Pre-Injury Level Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has developed Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for the Return to Play to Pre-Injury Level Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury. Evidence-based information, in conjunction with the clinical expertise of physicians, was used to develop the criteria to determine the appropriateness of return to play to pre-injury level after an ACL injury. The AUC for the Return to Play to Pre-Injury Level Following ACL Injury were derived by identifying clinical indications typical of patients wishing to return to play after an ACL injury. These indications were most often clinically significant parameters, including symptoms and diagnostic findings. In addition, "patient-level variables"(eg, activity level or demographics) can be considered. A total of 576 patient scenarios and 3 procedure recommendations were developed by the writing panel, a group of clinicians who are specialists in this AUC topic. Next, a separate multidisciplinary rating panel (made up of specialists and nonspecialists) rated the appropriateness of treatment of each patient scenario using a 9-point scale to designate a treatment as "appropriate"(median rating, 7 to 9), "may be appropriate"(median rating, 4 to 6), or "rarely appropriate"(median rating, 1 to 3).