Synthetic Grafts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Professional Female Handball Players—A Viable Option?
Răzvan Marian Melinte,
Dan Nicolae Zolog Schiopea,
Daniel Oltean-Dan,
Robert Bolcaș,
Matei Florin Negruț,
Tudor-Mihai Magdaș,
Marian Andrei Melinte,
Mircea Tăbăcar
Affiliations
Răzvan Marian Melinte
1st Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 47 Traian Mosoiu Street, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Dan Nicolae Zolog Schiopea
Doctoral School of Medicine and Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 1 Nicolae Iorga Street, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
Daniel Oltean-Dan
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, County Emergency Hospital, 47 Traian Mosoiu Street, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Robert Bolcaș
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care II, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Matei Florin Negruț
“Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Tudor-Mihai Magdaș
Department of Anatomy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Marian Andrei Melinte
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, County Emergency Hospital, 47 Traian Mosoiu Street, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Mircea Tăbăcar
MedLife Humanitas Hospital, 75 Frunzisului Street, 400664 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACR) rupture is a frequent injury in professional sports players. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including 41 professional female handball players, undergoing ACR reconstruction surgery, using a Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) graft (n = 12) or a Soft Tissue (ST) graft (n = 29). After return-to-play, the patients were asked to take a survey, reporting subjective and objective performance indexes before the injury and after return-to-play. Time from surgery to first practice and to return-to-play were significantly shorter in the LARS group (3.92 ± 1.14 vs. 6.93 ± 2.19 months, p p p = 0.01 for 100 m; 1.66 ± 1 s vs. 0.21 ± 0.66 s for gate-to-gate). In conclusion, LARS grafts provide a faster recovery time and better functional outcome, significantly impacting the performance of professional handball players.
