Evidence of ACL healing on MRI following ACL rupture treated with rehabilitation alone may be associated with better patient-reported outcomes: a secondary analysis from the KANON trial

Key Points

1. There is exploratory evidence that there may be signs of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) healing at 2 and 5 years after injury in those who opted for rehabilitation only in the KANON trial.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Can the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) heal? This has been a looming question for centuries as we have seen different management and surgical procedures arise to optimize ACL healing and outcomes. The significant ramifications of potential ACL healing will not only reduce time-loss from sport and recreational activity but decrease the substantial burden these injuries have on the health system and patients.

This study explored the proportion of patients with evidence of ACL healing on MRI in the first 5 years after an ACL rupture and assessed the impact of ACL healing on functional outcomes.

Potential ACL healing may not only reduce time-loss from sport and recreational activity but also decrease the substantial burden these injuries have on the health system and patients.

This study continues to support the avoidance of early surgery unless necessary when treating anterior cruciate ligament tears.

METHODS

• This was a secondary analysis of the Knee Anterior Cruciate Ligament Nonsurgical vs Surgical Treatment (KANON) trial (1). Patients in the KANON randomized controlled trial (RCT) were aged 18-35 years with an acute ACL rupture confirmed on MRI within four

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