Review of outcome instruments for evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The need to quantify the efficacy of medical treatment has lead to the discipline of outcome assessment. Many instruments are available for the assessment of the outcome for surgical procedures in orthopaedic surgery. A review is presented of the general health outcome instruments used to assess the efficacy of specific orthopaedic procedures. To date little work has addressed the appropriate outcome instruments for evaluating anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.