Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of treatment with continuous passive motion (CPM) device as part of the rehabilitation protocol on range of motion, swelling, pain, and knee function in patients who underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a hamstring graft.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery followed by physical therapy and a rehabilitation program between 2009 and 2011. Group 1 consisted of 30 patients in whom CPM was applied. In group 2, there were also 30 patients, in whom no CPM was applied. We compared demographic data and range of motion, circumference measurements of the knee and the quadriceps muscle, VAS scores, and Lysholm scores, which all were measured on the 3rd day, and the 1st and the 3rd month postoperatively in both groups.

Results: In four patients with CPM treatment, the flexion of the knee was found to be statistically significantly better in the 4th postoperative week (p=0.03), whereas there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of range of motion, circumference measurements of the knee and the quadriceps muscle, VAS scores, and lysholm scores on the 3rd day, and the 1st and the 3rd month postoperatively.

Conclusion: We concluded that CPM, which is commonly used as part of the rehabilitation protocols in the early postoperative period, has some effects on flexion, but it does not have any long-term effect on function. Although a better range of motion in the early postoperative period is beneficial, it is important to know that the long-term functional outcome is similar to that in patients in whom CPM could not be performed due to lack of technical staff and equipment.