ACL Reconstruction with Chondral Surgery — ACL Reconstruction with Microfracture or Chondral Surgery (Trochlea or Patella)

Mammoth Orthopedic Institute / Sierra Park PT · Brian B. Gilmer MD (US Ski Team Physician); Karly M. Dawson PA-C; Andrea Dillon…

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with crutches; brace locked in extension for ambulation x6 weeks (patellofemoral protection); may unlock brace at rest; DC crutches when quad control returns

Key Restrictions

Brace locked in extension for ambulation x6 weeks (PF cartilage protection); no open chain resistive with weights; no downhill activity; no cutting/jumping/pivoting until Phase V; earliest RTS 9 months

Timeline & Phases

5 phases: Phase I (0-3 wks, WBAT brace locked for gait unlocked at rest), Phase II (3-6 wks, advance strengthening, DC brace at 6 wks), Phase III (6 wks-3 months, CKC, neuromuscular retraining, light running from 12 wks), Phase IV (3-5 months, running at 75%, agility), Phase V (5-8 months, plyometrics, RTS testing at 9 months)

Notes

PF cartilage location drives brace-locked-in-extension x6 wks for gait vs NWB x6 wks in femoral condyle/tibial plateau variant; Cartiform/BioCartilage included; return to sport criteria: quad/hamstring ≥90%, SL hop/vertical jump ≥90%, no effusion; Andrea Dillon PT DPT 6/24/2016; Gilmer MD 6/24/2016

Surgeon / Author

Brian B. Gilmer MD (US Ski Team Physician); Karly M. Dawson PA-C; Andrea Dillon PT DPT

Published

June 2016