Effect of Intraoperative Live Video Viewing on Kinesiophobia After ACL Reconstruction

Return to preinjury competitive sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains suboptimal despite successful surgical and mechanical restoration Psychological factors, particularly kinesiophobia (fear of movement) and state anxiety, act as significant barriers to functional recovery, rehabilitation adherence, and return to sport Although the biopsychosocial model is increasingly recognized in orthopedic rehabilitation, patient-specific perioperative interventions designed to mitigate these psychological barriers remain limited This prospective, parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether active patient engagement through intraoperative live arthroscopic video viewing can improve postoperative psychological and functional outcomes Eligible adult patients scheduled for primary ACLR under spinal anesthesia are randomized in a 1:1 ratio into an intervention (video-viewing) group or a control group All surgical procedures are performed by a single experienced orthopedic surgeon using an anatomic single-bundle reconstruction technique with a hamstring tendon autograft In the intervention group, the arthroscopic monitor is positioned within the patient's direct visual field.

While under spinal anesthesia, patients watch the procedure live During the operation, the surgeon provides a standardized, step-by-step verbal explanation of the normal intra-articular structures, the torn ACL, the reconstruction steps, and the final graft appearance In the control group, patients receive standard surgical care and routine perioperative communication under the same anesthetic conditions but are not allowed to view the arthroscopic monitor.

To ensure the intervention is adequately delivered, patients must remain conscious and cooperative throughout the surgery; those developing deep sedation (Ramsay Sedation Scale score >2) or requiring conversion to general anesthesia are excluded Following surgery, both groups undergo an identical, standardized rehabilitation protocol This protocol includes early mobilization with an angle-adjustable brace, immediate weight-bearing as tolerated, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, and a progressive home exercise program focusing on quadriceps strengthening Data collection is performed preoperatively and at 4 and 24 weeks postoperatively by independent clinical specialists who are completely blinded to group allocation An independent psychiatrist evaluates psychological outcomes, including the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11, primary outcome), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) Concurrently, an independent Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist assesses functional outcomes and pain using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form, the Lysholm Knee Score, the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Function subscale, and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain The primary objective is to determine if real-time visualization of the reconstructed knee anatomy reduces postoperative kinesiophobia at 24 weeks compared to standard care

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 years and older.
• Diagnosis of isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.
• Scheduled to undergo primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction under spinal anesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

• Concomitant knee injuries requiring additional surgical procedures that substantially alter early postoperative weight-bearing and rehabilitation (e.g., meniscal repair or microfracture)
• Multiligament injury or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury.
• Advanced chondral damage, rheumatologic disease, bleeding diathesis, or active local/systemic infection
• Psychiatric disorders requiring active treatment
• Inability to remain conscious, cooperative, and communicative throughout the procedure (e.g., developing deep sedation with a Ramsay score >2 or requiring conversion to general anesthesia)