Options for a second (revision) ACL surgery

Revision ACL Reconstruction: A Comparative Effectiveness Treatment Study

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11169935

This work looks at how different surgical approaches and patient factors relate to long-term outcomes for people having a second ACL reconstruction.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11169935 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would join a large group of people who had a revision (repeat) ACL reconstruction and be followed over many years. Doctors across dozens of centers collected patient-reported outcomes, clinical exams, and X-rays to track knee health and the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. A nested onsite group had detailed radiographic and clinical follow-up, and the project now adds genomic analyses to try to predict who is at higher risk for osteoarthritis. The study pools real-world surgical choices from many surgeons to help link technique and patient factors with long-term results.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who have had a prior ACL reconstruction and now need or have undergone a revision (second) ACL reconstruction are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with a first-time (primary) ACL tear, unrelated knee conditions, or who are not having surgery would not be the focus and likely would not benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help surgeons pick treatments and identify patients at higher risk of osteoarthritis so care can be tailored to improve long-term knee health.

How similar studies have performed: Previous MARS cohort follow-ups at 2, 6, and 10 years produced important outcome and osteoarthritis findings, while using genomics to predict OA risk is a newer addition.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions ACL injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.