Clinical Trials / Research Studies

Have You or a Loved One Had a Recent Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury? 10 to 25 Year Olds Needed for ACL Reconstruction Research Study

Why are we doing this research?

Cincinnati Children’s is conducting a research study, sometimes known as a clinical trial or clinical study, to learn more about what effects (both good and bad) Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction has on a person and their knee. The study also hopes to identify risk factors for future injury and development of arthritis following ACL reconstruction.

Who can participate?

Healthy children, teens and adults ages 10 to 25 years old who:

Are active in sports
Have recently suffered an ACL injury

Conditions

Healthy Infants, Children and Adolescent Studies

What will happen in the study?

Once you or your child has been released to return to sports by his/her physician and physical therapist, they are ready to participate in the study. We will ask you to visit our lab for a total of 7 testing sessions over the course of 2 years. Tests will occur every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months in the second year.

The following physical tests and/or procedures may occur during this research study:

Maturity and medical history
Height, weight and leg lengths
Flexibility and joint looseness
Leg and hip strength testing
Balance, motion and hop testing
Single leg balance task
Injury tracking

We will track you or your child’s injuries for a total of 5 years. The study will include long term follow-up requiring occasional communication between you and the study team for the duration of the study.

What are the good things that can happen from this research?

You or your child might not receive a direct medical benefit. However, the information gained from this study may help researchers determine when and who is at high risk of knee injury after ACL reconstruction. This information could increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs designed to reduce the number of knee injuries and disability in athletes following ACL reconstruction.

Will I get all the facts about the study?

As a person interested in participating in this study or as a parent interested in having your child participate, you will be given a consent form that thoroughly explains all of the details of the study. The form covers all of the procedures, the risks, the benefits, the pay, who to contact with questions or concerns and more. A member of the study staff will review the consent form with you and will be sure that all of your questions are answered. Study procedures will not begin until a parent or guardian has signed this form.

What are the bad things that can happen from this research?

A detailed list of possible risks or discomforts will be provided to those interested in participating or to parents or guardians interested in knowing more about this study.

Will you/your child be paid to be in this research study?

Participants may receive up to $200 in gift cards for completing all of the testing sessions involved in the study.

Contact

Staci Thomas
513-803-1636
aclresearch@cchmc.org
Division of Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center
Human Performance Laboratory
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039

Study Doctor

Mark Paterno, PT, PhD, SCS, ATC
Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039