Sports Medicine – Anders Stålman's research group

Daniel Castellanos Dolk, MD, orthopaedic surgeon, began with the doctoral thesis project ”Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in competitive athletes: Incidence, surgical techniques and return to sports” in 2019. 

The thesis project aims to explore and contribute with a broader understanding of what it means to undergo an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) as an athlete in Sweden. We will follow higher-level athletes from the very beginning, studying the incidence rate of ACL-R across six different sports and identifying injury patterns of associated injuries. Moreover, we aim to explore different surgical techniques by comparing semitendinousus and bone-block quadriceps autografts in athletes undergoing ACL-R. Finally we will follow athletes back to sports and study the return-to-sport rates after ACL-R in high-demanding sports in two different studies.

Firathan Koca, PhD Student KI, MMK

Doctoral thesis project "The effect of graft choice in ACL surgery"

Katarina Lindgren, PhD Student KI, MMK

Filip Vuletić, PhD Student KI, MMK. 

Overview of the Study: Patient and Surgical Factors Influencing Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

This project consists of four interconnected parts aimed at enhancing our understanding of recovery after ACL reconstruction. It focuses on identifying risk factors linked to loss of knee extension and their effects on patient outcomes, while also examining long-term issues such as kneeling pain and mobility restrictions five years post-surgery. Additionally, a comparative analysis of two surgical techniques will address donor site morbidity.

Background and Significance. ACL injuries pose significant challenges, especially for athletes, with an annual incidence of 78 per 100,000 in Sweden. Loss of knee extension post-surgery is a common complication that can lead to osteoarthritis and affect long-term joint health. The type of graft used—hamstring versus bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB)—also influences donor site pain and functional outcomes. Future research will explore pain variations between quadriceps tendon and BPTB autografts, addressing a current gap in data.

Research Design and Objectives. The project includes three registry studies and one prospective randomized trial:

1. Registry Study 1: Analyzes risk factors for extension deficits after ACLR.
2. Registry Study 2: Compares postoperative pain and extension loss between hamstring and BPTB autografts.
3. Registry Study 3: Investigates five-year post-op risk factors for kneeling pain.
4. Prospective Study: Examines how different surgical techniques can reduce anterior knee pain and enhance BPTB graft outcomes.

Overall, the project aims to promote personalized treatment strategies, minimize donor site complications, and improve long-term quality of life for ACL reconstruction patients.