Participant Information Animation
The ACL STARR study is investigating which is the best surgical option… for people who have torn their Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL.
The ACL is an important band of tissue that supports the knee.
It is a strong structure in the centre of the knee. It attaches the thigh bone to the shin bone.
ACL injuries can be treated with surgery… or rehabilitation physiotherapy.
You will decide, with your surgeon, and family or carers, which is more suitable for you.
If you choose surgery you may be eligible for this study.
The ACL STARR Study… will compare two types of surgery to see which is better.
A ‘reconstruction’, where the torn ligament is replaced using tissue from elsewhere in your body.
Or a ‘repair’, which means that your torn ligament is kept and repaired.
Both are already performed in the NHS.
If you decide to join the study we will ask you to sign a consent form.
And to complete a set of questions about your knee injury.
At the start of your operation, your surgeon will look at your ligament to make sure it is suitable for either surgery.
If repair surgery isn’t suitable… you will have reconstruction surgery.
You will not be part of the study and will be looked after as normal.
If it is, your type of surgery will be decided randomly by a computer.
Half of our participants will have reconstruction surgery, and half will have repair surgery.
We won’t tell you which surgery you’ve had until after the study has finished.
After surgery, you will have physiotherapy to help your recovery.
At 3 and 6 weeks after surgery, we will ask you to complete a pain score.
This is a number on a scale from 0 to 10… sent by text, email or post depending on your choice.
At 6, 12 and 24 months after your operation we will send you a set of questions by email or by post.
We want to find out how well you function… walk… run… or play sport, two years after surgery.
It will only take 10 minutes to complete each set of questions.
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave at any time.
By taking part you will help us find out which surgery is best for treating torn ACLs.
The doctors, surgeons and research team are happy to answer any questions about joining the study.
