Rehabilitation After Patellar Tendon Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Sumamry: Rehabilitation protocols after bone-patellar tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have become significantly more aggressive over the past decade. Key concepts of an accelerated rehabilitation protocol include immediate full weight bearing, unrestricted range of motion, early closed kinetic exercises, and return to play by 4 months. Additional components of a successful rehabilitation program include appropriate timing of surgery, adequate postoperative analgesia, use of cryotherapy, and diligent surveillance for the development of postoperative motion complications. In addition to thorough patient evaluation and meticulous surgical technique, a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol for the reconstructed knee is an essential part of the overall treatment algorithm of the anterior cruciate ligamentinjured extremity. This article reviews a variety of different factors involved in successful rehabilitation after anterior cruciate reconstruction using patellar bone-tendon-bone autograft and presents a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol.