Open AccessSex comparison of familial predisposition to anterior cruciate ligament injury
Author(s) -
Myer Gregory D.,
Heidt Robert S.,
Waits Chad,
Finck Samuel,
Stanfield Denver,
Posthumus Michael,
Hewett Timothy E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-013-2822-3
Subject(s) - anterior cruciate ligament , medicine , acl injury , tears , risk factor , family history , first degree relatives , surgery , physical therapy
Purpose In an effort to identify risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, many potential risk factors have been proposed, including familial predisposition. However, no study has evaluated familial predisposition in male or females separately. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a familial predisposition to ACL injury exists in both males and females. Methods One hundred and twenty (78 males and 42 females) patients who had undergone surgical ACL reconstruction were recruited as the ACL group, and 107 patients (67 males and 40 females) that had undergone arthroscopic partial menisectomy, with no previous history of ACL injury, were recruited as the referent control group. A familial ACL injury and subject particulars questionnaire was completed. Results When all subjects were combined, the ACL group (20.0 %, 24 of 120) did not demonstrate a higher familial (first‐degree relative) prevalence (n.s.) of ACL injury compared to the referent control group (15.0 %; 16 of 107 patients). When the data were stratified by sex, the male ACL group (19.2 %, 15 of 78) demonstrated a significantly higher familial (first‐degree relative) prevalence ( P = 0.02) of ACL injury compared to the male referent control group (7.5 %; 5 of 67 patients). There were no differences among the females (n.s.). Discussion The results of this study show that male patients with ACL tears are more likely to have a first‐degree relative with an ACL tear compared to male referent control subjects. Future research is warranted to better delineate sex‐specific risk factors for ACL injuries could help guide intervention programs aimed at preventative treatment strategies, especially in high‐risk families. Level of evidence III.