Poster 322: Blood Flow Restriction after ACL Reconstruction Does Not Accelerate Quadriceps Strengthening

Objectives: The use of blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy has gained popularity as an adjunct rehabilitation technique following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). purpose this study was to longitudinally evaluate the impact that BFR on quadriceps strength ACLR with tendon (QT) autograft in comparison traditional protocols. Methods: Patients undergoing primary QT at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Included patients had minimum two isometric testing sessions via electromechanical dynamometer (Biodex). Obtained measures included peak knee extension torque operative extremity and ratio (KER), which nonoperative compared. Strength compared between received during postoperative underwent without for up three measurement sessions. Demographic surgical factors including patient age surgery, sex, BMI, level competition, time from injury surgery session, regional anesthesia, tourniquet time, concomitant collected. Two group comparisons continuous categorical variables analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U chi-squared test, respectively. Statistical significance set 0.05. Results: A total 45 (26 female) 36 (13 met inclusion criteria. Mean entire cohort 19.5 years. There no statistically significant differences among demographic or cohorts. Of receiving therapy, mean number treatments 18 first measurement, 8 second measurements, 9 third measurements. Peak lower (96 Nm) than (111 session (p=0.03) but similar groups (118 Nm vs 134 Nm, p=0.1) (138 130 p =0.39) difference change KER (0.81) (0.90, p=0.02), though existed Conclusions: Sequential measurements young demonstrated improvements irrespective use. when comparing groups. Both over did not accelerate gains rehabilitation. However, starting yet final cohort, role long term risk cannot be excluded.