McAleese, Timothy, Welch, Neil, King, Enda, Moffatt, Liam, Keane, Niamh, Moran, Kieran, Jackson, Mark, Withers, Daniel, Moran, Ray and Devitt, Brian M. (2025) Clinical Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Gaelic Games Players. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 13 (8). pp. 1-11. ISSN 2325-9671
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Abstract
Background: The Gaelic games, specifically Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie, are high-intensity, level 1 field sports. However, there is a lack of data regarding the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Gaelic games players.
Purpose: To evaluate the rates of return to play (RTP), ACL graft reinjury, contralateral ACL injury, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in a cohort of Gaelic footballers and hurling/camogie players at 2 years after ACLR.
Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.
Methods: A consecutive cohort of 1891 Gaelic games players who underwent primary ACLR between 2014 and 2018 was included. Patients were contacted at 2 years postoperatively with an overall follow-up rate of 93.4%. The rate of RTP, subsequent ACL injury, and PROMS were recorded. The PROMS evaluated were the Marx score, the ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI), and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score.
Results: The mean age was 23 ± 6 years, and 73.3% of athletes were male. RTP rates were 87.8% for Gaelic football and 89.5% for hurling/camogie, with 72.7% and 76.3% of athletes returning to an equivalent or higher level of performance, respectively. Female Gaelic footballers had a slightly lower RTP rate than males (83.8% vs 89.1%; P < .016). The mean time to RTP was 10.8 ± 4 months. The rate of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft reinjury was 3.3% (51/1547) versus 15.3% (33/216) for hamstring (HT) autografts ( P < .001). Senior intercounty (elite) players had the lowest rate of contralateral ACL injury (8.1%, 14/173). Gaelic footballers and hurling/camogie players reported good outcomes with mean IKDC scores of 86.9 ± 9.8 versus 87.9 ± 8.9, ( P = .064), mean Marx scores of 11 ± 4.7 versus 11.3 ± 4.6 ( P = .309), and mean ACL-RSI scores of 74.1 ± 23.5 versus 75.8 ± 24.2 ( P = .321), respectively.
Conclusion: RTP rates among Gaelic games players were high, with the majority returning to an equivalent/higher level of performance. The rate of BPTB graft reinjury was low, considering the injury risk associated with returning to level 1 sport. Younger patients and those who underwent HT autograft reconstruction were at the highest risk of ACL graft reinjury. Overall, Gaelic games players reported good knee function and outcomes after ACLR.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | anterior cruciate ligament; Gaelic games; Gaelic football; hurling; camogie; level 1 sport; |
| Academic Unit: | Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Sports Science and Nutrition |
| Item ID: | 21234 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1177/23259671251352207 |
| Depositing User: | Kieran Moran |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Feb 2026 15:56 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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