Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer opportunities to evaluate surgical procedures using routinely collected data.

We evaluated whether EMR encounters and encounter time after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were indicators of surgical failure.

Patients with excessive visits (≥5) to the orthopaedic office within the first 90 days after surgery were more likely to fail.

Patients with ≥4 regular office visits or with radiological/laboratory encounters at the emergency room in days 91–180 were more likely to fail.

Surveillance of EMR encounters of large surgical cohorts can assist orthopaedic surgeons in monitoring their patients’ outcomes.