Revalidation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The subject of interest in this study is the revalidation after ACL
reconstruction. Originally, the operation was followed by a long period of
revalidation on an inpatient basis. Nowadays patients are dismissed from the
hospital earlier or the operation is performed on an outpatient basis. In this
situation the revalidation supervised by the physical therapist is started
directly after the operation. In the literature no differences are reported
between inpatient or outpatient patient groups with reference to function, time
of recovery and pain reported by the patient.

To compare two revalidation protocols with reference to the ACL reconstruction

Mono centre study design (Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, the Netherlands)
Prospective
Open study design
To compare two patient groups after ACL reconstruction. Randomisation for one
of the two revalidation protocols. In the first protocol the operation is
performed on an inpatient basis with 3 to 5 days of inpatient revalidation
under supervision by the physical therapist. After this inpatient period, the
revalidation is continued on an outpatient basis. In the second protocol the
patient is operated in an outpatient setting followed by outpatient
revalidation for the moment of operation.

To compare two patient groups after ACL reconstruction. Randomisation for one
of the two revalidation protocols. In the first protocol the operation is
performed on an inpatient basis with 3 to 5 days of inpatient revalidation
under supervision by the physical therapist. After this inpatient period, the
revalidation is continued on an outpatient basis. In the second protocol the
patient is operated in an outpatient setting followed by outpatient
revalidation for the moment of operation.

Low burden associated with participation. There will be no extra (outpatient)
controls other than normal for this operation (2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6
months and one year postoperative). During each outpatient control
questionnaires will be used to assess the progress of the patient. This will
take approximately 10 minutes extra.

In the literature reports are made of the same risks for inpatient and
outpatient operated and revalidated patients.