The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors, per a news release, has approved new Appropriate Use Criteria (AUCs) for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programs and treatment.
The AAOS has also approved new rehabilitation and function checklists to help injured athletes return to play.
The new “Appropriate Use Guideline for the Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries” provides more specific guidance to orthopaedic surgeons based on a patient’s various indications, including age, activity level, presence of advanced arthritis, and the status of the ACL tear. The guidelines recommend specific next steps and procedures to ensure optimal recovery. Each treatment recommendation is ranked by level of appropriateness, the release explains.
The evidence-based “Return to Play”and “Postoperative Rehabilitation” checklists set expectations of what needs to be accomplished before an athlete can return to play, per the release.
The new “Appropriate Use Guideline for ACL Injury Prevention Programs” offers advice regarding a supervised ACL injury prevention program for athletes involved in competitive or recreational athletics, with no prior history of ACL reconstruction and no current history of ACL deficiency. It is used to help determine whether a particular, supervised ACL injury prevention program is optimal for a particular person, the release states.
For more information, visit AAOS.
[Source(s): AAOS, PR Newswire]
