The mechanism of injury's role in jump landing mechanics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study is to determine if there is a difference in post-rehabilitation Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) score between patients who injured their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) through a contact or noncontact mechanism of injury (MOI). The secondary aim is to determine if there is a difference in demographics, strength, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between patients who injured their ACL through a contact or noncontact MOI. METHODS: Patients were included from a larger observational laboratory study if they had undergone a primary, isolated, uncomplicated ACLR. Patients were excluded if they had a history of other lower extremity surgery, concomitant ligament injury, surgical complications, or any neurologic disorder. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were included in this study (age: 21.4 ± 7.9, sex: 64 F/65 M, follow up: 8.1 ± 1.7 months). Ninety-one patients (70.5%) sustained a noncontact MOI, and 38 patients (29.5%) sustained a contact MOI. There was no difference in total LESS score (p = 0.930), frontal LESS score (p = 0.831) or sagittal LESS score (p = 0.980) between the contact and noncontact groups. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in total LESS score, frontal LESS score, or sagittal LESS score between contact and noncontact MOI. A considerable proportion of participants demonstrated multiple landing errors, indicating that assessment and rehabilitation of landing mechanics may remain relevant during late-stage rehabilitation. There was no statistically significant difference between mechanism of initial ACL injury and strength or PROs. The decision to allow a patient to return to play is multifactorial and should occur after modifiable risk factors, including jump landing mechanics, have been properly mitigated during rehabilitation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.