Sports medicine stats: ACL reconstruction and changes in recent years
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
The incidence of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has increased dramatically. Between 1994 and 2006, the number of these surgeries increased from an estimated 86,687 to 129,836 in the United States alone. ACL reconstructions increased most significantly among female patients and in patients under the age of 20 and those over 40.
Additionally, there has been an upward trend toward same-day and short-stay procedures. While only 43% of ACL surgeries were performed as outpatient or short-stay procedures in 1994, in 2006, 95% of ACLRs were performed in the outpatient setting.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, May 2016
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
The incidence of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has increased dramatically. Between 1994 and 2006, the number of these surgeries increased from an estimated 86,687 to 129,836 in the United States alone. ACL reconstructions increased most significantly among female patients and in patients under the age of 20 and those over 40.