Abstract
BACKGROUND: With emerging treatments for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, analysis of patient preferences is lacking to align clinical care and research with patient priorities. PURPOSES: To identify patient priorities for outcomes after surgical intervention if they were to sustain an ACL tear, analyze what outcome measures influenced preferences, and determine whether patient demographics influenced preferences. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The authors screened patients aged 18 to 30 years who presented for upper extremity complaints to a single institution in 2023. Patients were excluded for current lower extremity injury or history of a knee injury requiring surgical consultation. The authors designed a discrete choice experiment through literature review of outcome measures for bridge-enhanced ACL restoration (BEAR) and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with hamstring tendon autograft. Measures included return to sports, risk of arthritis, risk of reinjury, and hamstring strength. Patients chose surgery A (ACLR with hamstring tendon autograft) or surgery B (BEAR) and then rated the importance of each outcome measure on their selection. RESULTS: In total, 100 participants (36 female; mean age, 25.1 ± 4.0 years) completed the discrete choice experiment. Overall, 56.0% participated in sports and 80.0% were employed. Based on surgery choice group, there were no significant differences in sex, age, Marx Activity Scale score, sports participation, or employment status between patients who selected BEAR or ACLR with hamstring tendon autograft (all P > .361). Return to sports and hamstring strength were significant priorities for patients in procedure selection (P ≤ .011). Of the patients who selected ACLR with hamstring tendon autograft, 31.6% would not elect to undergo this procedure. CONCLUSION: In this discrete choice experiment of adults without prior ACL injury, return to sports and hamstring strength were identified as patient priorities when selecting a procedure for ACL injury. Risk of reinjury, however, was not a significant factor in procedure selection. Importantly, these priorities were maintained regardless of patient characteristics, activity level, or employment status.