Factors Affecting the Success of ACL Repair Versus Reconstruction

Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Ryba, Tyrone

Area of Concentration

Natural Sciences

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among physically active populations and often require surgical intervention through either reconstruction or repair techniques such as Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR). However, there is still limited understanding of how patient-specific factors influence the success of these approaches. This study synthesized findings from 34 articles to evaluate how age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and activity level affect revision rates, patient-reported outcomes, and mechanical stability. Overall, reconstruction demonstrated greater mechanical stability, with lower risks of revision and recurrent instability. In contrast, repair techniques showed comparable patient-reported outcomes and may offer advantages in early psychological readiness and muscle preservation, particularly in selected patient populations. These findings suggest that while ACL reconstruction remains the most reliable option for long-term stability, modern repair techniques may serve as a viable alternative in carefully selected cases, especially when earlier recovery and tissue preservation are prioritized.

Rights

The author has not granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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