IC01- Leveling the Playing Field in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Closing the Gap in Outcomes and Care for the Female Athlete.

Instructional Course Moderator(s)

• MS

  Michael Scarcella, MD

  Cleveland Clinic

  Disclosure(s): Arthrex, Inc: Consultant (Ongoing)
• 

  Mia Hagen, MD

  Associate Professor
  University of Washington

  Disclosure(s): RTI Surgical: Consultant (Ongoing); Smith & Nephew: Consultant (Ongoing), Speaker (Ongoing)

*Courses included with registration; however advance sign-up is required.


Female athletes sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at disproportionately high rates compared to males, with risk amplified by complex interactions among anatomical, hormonal, biomechanical, and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, there has been a rapid increase in the number of female athletes over the last decade. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons to advance the level of care we provide to the female athlete. This course explores sex-specific considerations in ACL reconstruction (ACLR), emphasizing biological underpinnings, operative decision-making, psychological factors, and long-term outcomes. Large prospective cohorts have demonstrated that female patients do not face higher graft failure or contralateral ACL tear risk, yet consistently report lower Marx activity levels, inferior return-to-sport rates, and modestly worse IKDC scores compared with males up to 10 years postoperatively. These disparities are not explained by graft choice or sport alone, underscoring the influence of psychological readiness, resilience, and tailored rehabilitation. Through integration of cutting-edge evidence and clinical experience, this session will provide surgeons with strategies to optimize outcomes in female ACLR. Attendees will gain a framework for applying sex-specific insights to surgical planning, perioperative care, and long-term athlete support, advancing equity and performance in women's sports medicine.

Presentations:

• 7:00 AM - 7:05 AM PDT

  Leveling the Playing Field in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Closing the Gap in Outcomes and Care for the Female Athlete Introduction and Scope 
  

  Instructional Course Faculty: Michael J. Scarcella, MD – Cleveland Clinic
• 7:05 AM - 7:15 AM PDT

  From biology to activity: understanding the female athlete and implications for ACL injury and treatment
  

  Instructional Course Faculty: Miho J. Tanaka, MD, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
• 7:15 AM - 7:25 AM PDT

  Where sex matters: sex-based outcome differences following ACL reconstruction 
  

  Instructional Course Faculty: Kurt P. Spindler, MD – Cleveland Clinic
• 7:25 AM - 7:35 AM PDT

  What do we know about female ACL reconstruction in 2025: technical and rehab considerations 
  

  Instructional Course Faculty: Michelle Wolcott, MD – University of Colorado School of Medicine
• 7:35 AM - 7:45 AM PDT

  Beyond the reconstruction: psychological readiness in the female athlete 
  

  Instructional Course Faculty: Andrew J. Sheean, MD – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM PDT

  Panel Discussion and Q&A