Do Patient Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Influence Surgical Treatment Rates After ACL Injury?

INTRODUCTION

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may be managed nonoperatively in certain patients and injury patterns; however, complete ACL ruptures are commonly reconstructed to restore anterior and lateral rotatory stability of the knee. While ACL reconstruction is well-studied, the literature is sparse with regard to which socioeconomic patient factors are associated with patients undergoing ACL reconstruction rather than nonoperative management after diagnosis of an ACL injury. The current study seeks to evaluate this relationship between patient demographics as well as socioeconomic factors and the rate of surgery following ACL injuries.

METHODS

Patients ≤65 years of age with a primary ACL injury between 2011 and 2018 were retrospectively identified in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database. International Classification of Disease 9/10 and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify these patients and their subsequent ACL reconstructions. Logistic regression was performed to determine the effect of patient factors on the likelihood of having surgery after the diagnosis of an ACL injury.

RESULTS

Compared to White patients, African American patients were significantly less likely to undergo ACL reconstruction following an ACL injury (OR=0.65, 95% CI, 0.573-0.726). Patients older than 35 had decreased odds of undergoing ACL reconstruction compared to younger patients, with patients 55-64 having the lowest odds (OR=0.166, 95% CI, 0.136-0.203). Patients with Medicaid (OR=0.84, 95% CI, 0.757-0.933) or self-pay insurance (OR=0.67, 95% CI, 0.565-0.793), and those with worker's compensation (OR=0.715, 95% CI, 0.621-0.823) had decreased odds of undergoing ACL reconstruction relative to patients with private insurance. Patients with higher Social Deprivation Index (SDI) were significantly more likely to be treated nonoperatively after ACL injuries compared to those with lower SDI (mean nonoperative SDI score, 61, operative SDI, 56, P<0.0001).

DISCUSSION: In patients with ACL injuries, there are socioeconomic and patient-related factors that are associated with increased odds of undergoing ACL reconstruction. These factors are important to recognize as they represent a source of potential inequality in access to care and an area with potential for improvement.