ACL injuries – treatment and patients´ experiences of outpatient surgery at UNN 2008-2010

Abstract

Background: Since 2003 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions have been done as outpatient surgery at the University Hospital of North Norway, UNN. Previously, the surgeries required overnight hospital stay. In 2010 a survey was done to see the experiences of the patients to whom ACL reconstruction was done 2004-2007. Thesis aims: This master thesis will focus on the patients that underwent surgery during 2008-2010, to see if the routines at UNN have improved over the past few years. Important topics are to see how many was discharged the same day, find out patients´ experiences of outpatient surgery and see how many that had to go through a new ACL reconstruction. Materials and methods: In spring 2012 questionnaires were sent out to 98 patients that were enrolled in this study. 48 patients answered. A big part of this thesis is also literature study. Material was found by conducting a search in PubMed to find existing and relevant literature and newest research. Subsequent information was found from web sites and textbooks. Results: 89,6% was discharged the same day. Those that were not discharged the same day reported that they had had their surgery late in the afternoon. 87,3% would go through the same surgery again. 93,7% of the patients was satisfied with outpatient surgery. 71% did not get any complications post-operatively. No thrombosis was registered. No one had to go through a new ACL reconstruction. Patients with high Tegnér score before injury have not the same possibility to continue at the same activity level after surgery as those with low Tegnér score before injury (p<0,01). Patients over 30 years of age showed better improvement in stability than patients less than 30 years of age (p<0,05). Conclusions: The patients were generally pleased with outpatient surgery and leaving the same day. Most would undergo the same surgery again and showed good results when it comes to pain, stability and function.