Ultrasound-detected Effusion-synovitis Relates To Physical Activity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Effusion-synovitis, often observed after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), is a potential marker of joint inflammation and an early indicator of osteoarthritis. While physical activity (PA) is key in ACLR recovery, its impact on effusion-synovitis severity, and thus long-term joint health, is not well understood. PURPOSE: To determine the association between ultrasound-detected effusion-synovitis and device-based PA in patients 1-5 years post-ACLR. METHODS: Participants (n = 15) with a history of ACLR (9 females; age: 26 ± 6 years; mass: 71.1 ± 15.1 kg; height: 173.1 ± 9.3 cm, months post-ACLR: 29 ± 13) had assessments of effusion-synovitis with a suprapatellar knee ultrasound of the ACLR limb. Effusion-synovitis was quantified on an ordinal scale from no effusion (i.e., 0) to grades of increasing severity (i.e., 1, 2, 3). PA was assessed with waist-worn accelerometers for at least one week. PA data (valid if wear time > 480 minutes over ≥4 days) was categorized as sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous. PA was quantified as the percentage of wear time spent in: 1) low, moderate, and vigorous physical activity PA (%PA), and 2) moderate to vigorous PA (%MVPA). Spearman’s rho correlations were used to determine if effusion-synovitis severity was associated with %PA and %MVPA. RESULTS: Effusion-synovitis grade 1, 2, and 3 was present in 53%, 27%, and 7% of participants. A significant moderate correlation was found between effusion-synovitis and %PA (ρ = 0.52, p = 0.049, Figure 1). No significant relationship was detected between effusion-synovitis and %MVPA (ρ = 0.15, p = 0.59). CONCLUSION: This study reveals a high prevalence of effusion-synovitis (86%) and a moderate correlation between greater physical activity levels and effusion-synovitis severity in ACLR patients. However, the lack of correlation between effusion-synovitis and more intense physical activity underscores the complexity of the relationship between PA and joint health post-ACLR. Dr. Harkey was supported by a National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) grant (K01 AR081389). ChatGPT was used to revise the content of this research abstract