Sports Medicine Research Updates

This review synthesizes evidence and expert opinion on multiligament knee injuries, emphasizing comprehensive assessment (exam, stress radiography, MRI), attention to posteromedial/posterolateral and meniscal pathology to protect cruciate reconstructions, consideration of early single-stage surgery in selected patients, and meticulous anatomic reconstruction and rehabilitation planning to restore stability and avoid technical pitfalls.

In 401 male football players post-primary ACL reconstruction (median follow-up 40.6 months), 84% returned to pre-injury level, with greater volume, frequency, and high compliance with on-field rehabilitation (OFR) associated with higher return-to-play likelihood; overall second ACL injury rate was 10% and OFR measures were not linked to overall re-injury risk, though among players <20 years greater OFR compliance was associated with reduced ipsilateral re-injury.

Meta-analysis of 26 video-based studies (1,333 athletes) found ACL injuries were 45.1% non-contact, 41.0% indirect-contact and 18.5% direct-contact, with sport-specific patterns: basketball had increased indirect-contact, rugby and American football increased direct-contact, and handball/netball/skiing higher non-contact; injuries commonly occurred during jump landings and speed/change-of-direction tasks, supporting combined universal and sport-specific prevention.