Functional Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) With and Without Internal Bracing: A Prospective Study

Background and objective Internal bracing (IB) is a relatively new technique in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), proposed to improve graft protection during early healing. This study aimed to compare functional outcomes of ACLR with and without IB. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted over 12 months at a tertiary care hospital. Fifty patients with ACL injuries were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 25) underwent arthroscopic ACLR with IB, and Group B (n = 25) without IB. The patients were assigned to the two groups based on their informed choice, ensuring balanced group distribution until the sample size was achieved. Baseline demographics, injury profiles, graft parameters, and Lysholm Knee Scores were recorded preoperatively and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2018; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with a p-value less than 0.05 considered significant. Results The mean age was higher in Group A (32.92 ± 10.91) than in Group B (26.56 ± 8.66; p = 0.027). ACL tears were present in all Group B and 84% of Group A patients. Both groups had similar sociodemographic, clinical, and arthroscopic profiles. Group B had longer semitendinosus grafts (p = 0.007), but final graft dimensions were comparable. Lysholm scores were higher in Group A at all follow-up points (pre-op: 29.76 vs. 29.12; 6 weeks: 56.08 vs. 55.88; 12 weeks: 88.24 vs. 86.12), though not statistically significant. Minor complications, like pain, stiffness, and swelling, occurred equally across groups. Conclusion ACL reconstruction with IB showed comparable early functional outcomes without increasing short-term complication rates. However, larger, long-term studies are required.