Knee Bracing After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction, such as basketball, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Depending on the severity of the ACL injury, treatment may include surgery to replace the torn ligament followed by rehabilitation exercises to help the patient regain strength and stability. However, controversy exists as to the efficacy of postoperative bracing after ACL reconstruction. Because most studies designed to prove the efficacy of knee bracing after ACL reconstruction have been equivocal, Decoster et al1 questioned orthopedic sports medicine physicians about their brace prescription practices via a mailed survey. Most physicians used functional braces for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, preferred custom braces, and braced patients for 9 months after reconstruction. Thirtysix percent reported having recently made changes in their brace prescription practices, including using bracing less often. In 1998, Muellner et al2 evaluated the effects of bandaging after reconstructive surgery of the ACL. The study demonstrated that withholding the use of a brace had no adverse effect on early outcomes with respect to stability and function. On the contrary, bracing seemed to not be mandatory after ACL reconstruction when the central third of the patellar tendon was used. However, after 1998, bracing after ACL reconstruction has become a common practice. Some clinicians believe that bracing improves the outcome of ACL reconstrucKnee Bracing After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction