Clinically Relevant Subgroups Among Athletes Who Have Ruptured Their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments: A Delaware‐Oslo Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: To identify subgroups of individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries based on patient characteristics, self‐reported outcomes, and functional performance at baseline, and to associate subgroups with long‐term outcomes after ACL rupture. Methods: A total of 293 participants (45.7% male, mean ± SD age 26.2 ± 9.4 years, days from injury 58 ± 35) were enrolled after effusion, pain, and range of motion impairments were resolved and quadriceps strength was at least 70% of the uninvolved limb. Mixture modeling was used to uncover latent subgroups without a prior group classification using probabilistic assignment. Variables include demographics, functional testing, and self‐reported outcome measures. Radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA; i.e., Kellgren/Lawrence grade of ≥1) in the involved knee at 5 years after injury was the primary outcome of interest. Chi‐square tests assessed differences in the presence of radiographic OA in the involved knee between subgroups at 5 years after ACL rupture. Secondary outcomes of interest included radiographic OA in the uninvolved knee, return to preinjury sport by 2 years, operative status, and clinical OA (classified using Luyten et al criteria) at 5 years. Results: Four distinct subgroups exist after ACL rupture (younger good self‐report, younger poor self‐report, older poor self‐report, older good self‐report) with 30%, 31%, 47%, and 53%, respectively, having involved knee OA. The percentage of radiographic OA was not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.059). Conclusion: The prevalence of OA in all subgroups is highly concerning. These results suggest there are unique subgroupings of individuals that may guide treatment after ACL rupture and reconstruction by providing support for developing a patient‐centered approach.