International cooperation needed to improve national anterior cruciate ligament registries

Purpose: The aim of this study is to illustrate an overview of the registries currently operative in many countries to support the introduction of new prospective registries in other countries. Methods: The authors carried out a systematic web research in July 2021 to identify national ACL registries’ annual reports and scientific literature on national ACL registries. The latest annual public registry reports were collected and analyzed in this study. Results: There are currently established national ACL registries in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), and the Kaiser Permanente National Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Registry in the United States (US). Some differences can be found among the various registries due to the local healthcare system structure, data management rules, and general national laws. Conclusion: It is possible to develop accessible, cost-effective and entirely web-based ACL registries—as demonstrated by the Danish and Swedish registries—respecting the national legislation of different countries. This study supports the introduction of new ACL prospective registries in other countries to obtain valuable information for implementing daily clinical practice. Level of evidence: IV.