Secondary Injuries After Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review With Quantitative Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 036354652093477
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Zacharias ◽  
John R. Whitaker ◽  
Brandon S. Collofello ◽  
Benjamin R. Wilson ◽  
R. Zackary Unger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Graft Failure ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Secondary Injury ◽  
Skeletally Immature ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: In the skeletally mature anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction population, patients aged <25 years are at significantly increased risk of graft failure and injury to the contralateral ACL. Skeletal immaturity often affects graft selection and reconstruction technique. Purpose: To examine the incidence of ipsilateral graft failure and contralateral ACL injury in the skeletally immature patient population. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we reviewed all literature that involved ACL reconstruction performed on skeletally immature patients between May 1976 and May 2019. Patient demographics, surgical technique, and the prevalence of ipsilateral graft failure or subsequent contralateral ACL injury were recorded. Ipsilateral, contralateral, and secondary ACL injuries were then compared between sexes via chi-square tests. Results: A total of 24 articles (1254 children; 1258 knees) met inclusion criteria for analysis. Ipsilateral graft failures occurred in 105 of 1258 patients (8.3%), and there were no statistically significant sex differences in the prevalence of graft failures (female, 9.7%; male patients, 7.1%; P = .14). The prevalence of contralateral ACL injury was significantly greater in female (29/129; 22.5%) than male (18/206; 8.7%; P = .0004) patients in the 9 studies that reported contralateral injury. Skeletally immature female patients were at significantly increased risk of contralateral ACL injury (odds ratio = 3.0; P = .0006) when compared with their male counterparts. Conclusion: In the literature to date, 1 in 3 female skeletally immature patients experienced an ipsilateral graft failure or contralateral ACL injury. Regardless of sex, the 24% prevalence of secondary injury after pediatric ACL reconstruction is almost identical to previously published secondary injury rates in skeletally mature patients <25 years old. As such, skeletal maturity alone does not seem to be a determinant of secondary injury; however, there is a clear need to improve postoperative rehabilitation, activity progression, and return-to-play testing to allow a safe return to sports that protects the long-term health of the reconstructed and contralateral limbs, especially for female patients.

Twenty-Year Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Prospectively Collected Data

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110273
Author(s):  
Joshua S. Everhart ◽  
Sercan Yalcin ◽  
Kurt P. Spindler
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Knee Function ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Several long-term (≥20 years) follow-up studies after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been published in recent years, allowing for a systematic evaluation of outcomes. Purpose: To summarize outcomes at ≥20 years after ACL reconstruction and identify patient and surgical factors that affect these results. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Prospective studies of primary ACL reconstructions with hamstring or bone–patellar tendon—bone (BTB) autograft via an arthroscopic or a mini-open technique and with a mean follow-up of ≥20 years were identified. When possible, the mean scores for each outcome measure were calculated. Factors identified in individual studies as predictive of outcomes were described. Results: Five studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria with a total of 2012 patients. The pooled mean follow-up for patient-reported outcome measures was 44.2% (range, 29.6%-92.7%) and in-person evaluation was 33.2% (range, 29.6%-48.9%). Four studies (n = 584) reported graft tears at a mean rate of 11.8% (range, 2%-18.5%) and 4 studies (n = 773) reported a contralateral ACL injury rate of 12.2% (range, 5.8%-30%). Repeat non-ACL arthroscopic surgery (4 studies; n = 177) to the ipsilateral knee occurred in 10.4% (range, 9.5%-18.3%) and knee arthroplasty (1 study; n = 217) in 5%. The pooled mean of the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee function (IKDC) score was 79.1 (SD, 21.8 [3 studies; n = 644]). In 2 studies (n?= 221), 57.5% of patients continued to participate in strenuous activities. The IKDC-objective score was normal or nearly normal in 82.3% (n = 496; 3 studies), with low rates of clinically significant residual laxity. Moderate-severe radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) (IKDC grade C or D) was present in 25.9% of patients (n = 605; 3 studies). Medial meniscectomy is associated with increased risk of radiographic OA. Radiographic OA severity is associated with worse patient-reported knee function, but the association with knee pain is unclear. Conclusion: Currently available prospective evidence for ACL reconstruction with hamstring or BTB autograft provides several insights into outcomes at 20 years. The rates of follow-up at 20 years range from 30% to 93%. IKDC-objective scores were normal or nearly normal in 82% and the mean IKDC-subjective score was 79 points.

Assessment of Skeletal Maturity and Postoperative Growth Disturbance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110086
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Fury ◽  
Nikolaos K. Paschos ◽  
Peter D. Fabricant ◽  
Christian N. Anderson ◽  
Michael T. Busch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Skeletal Maturity ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Angular Deformity ◽  
Skeletally Immature ◽  
Growth Modulation ◽  
Growth Disturbance ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Growth disturbance is an uncommon but potentially serious complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in skeletally immature patients. Purpose: To describe how the pediatric ACL literature has assessed preoperative skeletal maturity and the amount of growth remaining and to comprehensively review the incidence, reporting, and monitoring of postoperative growth disturbance. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This review included studies reporting original research of clinical outcomes of skeletally immature patients after ACL reconstruction. Patient characteristics, surgical techniques, preoperative assessments of skeletal maturity or growth remaining, and postoperative assessments of growth disturbances were extracted. Results: A total of 100 studies met inclusion criteria. All studies reported chronological age, and 28 studies (28%) assessed skeletal age. A total of 44 studies (44%) used Tanner staging, and 12 studies (12%) obtained standing hip-to-ankle radiographs preoperatively. In total, 42 patients (2.1%) demonstrated a leg length discrepancy (LLD) >10 mm postoperatively, including 9 patients (0.5%) with LLD >20 mm; furthermore, 11 patients (0.6%) with LLD underwent growth modulation. Shortening was the most common deformity overall, but overgrowth was reported more frequently in patients who had undergone all-epiphyseal techniques. Most LLDs involved the femur (83%). A total of 26 patients (1.3%) demonstrated a postoperative angular deformity ≥5°, and 9 of these patients underwent growth modulation. The most common deformities were femoral valgus (41%), tibial recurvatum (33%), and tibial varus (22%). Although standing hip-to-ankle radiographs were the most common radiographic assessment of growth disturbance, most studies inadequately reported the clinical and radiographic methods of assessment for growth disturbance. Additionally, only 35% of studies explicitly followed patients to skeletal maturity. Conclusion: This systematic review described significant variability in the reporting and monitoring of growth-related complications after ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients. The incidence of LLD and angular deformity appeared to be low, but the quality of research was not comprehensive enough for accurate assessment. Registration: CRD42019136059 (PROSPERO)

scholarly journals Driving Tendency is Associated with Increased Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in National Basketball Association Players (103)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0025
Author(s):  
Kevin Thomas ◽  
Blake Schultz ◽  
Mark Cinque ◽  
Joshua Harris ◽  
Geoffrey Abrams
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
T Test ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Objectives: Previous work has shown a high return to sport (RTS) after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) in National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Data on performance outcomes after RTS are less clear, with some demonstrating no difference compared to controls and others showing decreased performance. Two fundamentals of basketball are driving the ball to the basket and long-range shooting. Driving involves lateral movement, whereas long-range shooting features vertical movement. The biomechanics of these two scoring approaches may affect risk of ACL injury and post-ACLR performance. The objective of this study was to investigate whether NBA players with higher drive tendency and/or higher tendency to shoot 3-point shots are more likely to tear their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) relative to controls and if they experience decreased statistical performance after returning to play. Methods: Season-level performance statistics and ACL injuries were aggregated from the 1980-2017 NBA seasons. Fifty players with isolated ACL tears during their NBA careers who had game performance data before and after injury were identified. Three-point shooting tendency was measured using the 3-point attempt rate (3PAr) statistic for each player-season. A statistical model was created to evaluate player’s tendency to drive the ball to the basket. The driving tendencies of players who underwent ACL reconstruction was compared with that of other players using an independent sample t-test. The rate of ACL tears among those with high driving tendency was compared with that of other players using an independent sample t-test. To investigate whether driving tendency and three-point shooting tendency are associated with RTS outcomes, objective case-control matching was performed. The last full season before each case player’s ACL injury was matched with similar seasons of two control players without history of ACL injury (figure 1). Total career points and playing minutes after RTS were compared between cases and controls using paired z-tests. Changes in driving tendency and three-point shooting tendency before injury vs after injury were compared between cases and controls using paired z-tests. Results: Players with career-average driving tendencies more than 1 standard deviation above the mean were more likely to tear their ACL than other players (0.0521 vs 0.0275, p = 0.0258) (figure 2). This represents a relative risk of 1.896. Players who experienced an ACL tear also had higher average drive tendencies than other players (p = 0.0468). There was not a significant difference between career-average 3-point attempt rate of ACLR players relative to others. There was no significant difference in total post-injury career points or career minutes between cases and controls. There was also no significant change in driving or 3-point shooting tendency after RTS compared to controls. ACL-injured players with higher driving tendency did not fall further below the performance of their controls after they returned. Conclusions: NBA players with increased drive tendency are more likely to tear their ACL. However, players who are able to return after ACL reconstruction do not underperform statistically compared to controls and do not alter their style of play compared to the normal changes seen with age.

scholarly journals Comparison of Blood Flow Restriction Training versus Non-Occlusive Training in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction or Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Cristina Bobes Álvarez ◽  
Paloma Issa-Khozouz Santamaría ◽  
Rubén Fernández-Matías ◽  
Daniel Pecos-Martín ◽  
Alexander Achalandabaso-Ochoa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Flow Restriction ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have been shown to have quadriceps muscle weakness and/or atrophy in common. The physiological mechanisms of blood flow restriction (BFR) training could facilitate muscle hypertrophy. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the effects of BFR training on quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), pain perception, function and quality of life on these patients compared to a non-BFR training. A literature research was performed using Web of Science, PEDro, Scopus, MEDLINE, Dialnet, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library databases. The main inclusion criteria were that papers were English or Spanish language reports of randomized controlled trials involving patients with ACL reconstruction or suffering from KOA. The initial research identified 159 publications from all databases; 10 articles were finally included. The search was conducted from April to June 2020. Four of these studies found a significant improvement in strength. A significant increase in CSA was found in two studies. Pain significantly improved in four studies and only one study showed a significant improvement in functionality/quality of life. Low-load training with BFR may be an effective option treatment for increasing quadriceps strength and CSA, but more research is needed.

Timeline for Maximal Subjective Outcome Improvement After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 2501-2509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinesh Agarwalla ◽  
Richard N. Puzzitiello ◽  
Joseph N. Liu ◽  
Gregory L. Cvetanovich ◽  
Anirudh K. Gowd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Clinical Significance ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common traumatic knee injuries experienced by athletes. Return to sport is considered the pinnacle endpoint among patients receiving ACL reconstruction. However, at the time of return to sport, patients may not be participating at their previous levels of function, as defined by clinical metrics. Purpose: To establish when patients perceive maximal subjective medical improvement according to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic review of the PubMed database was conducted to identify studies that reported sequential PROMs up to a minimum of 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Pooled analysis was conducted for PROMs at follow-up points of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Clinically significant improvement was determined between pairs of intervals with the minimal clinically important difference. Results: This review contains 30 studies including 2253 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction. Clinically significant improvement in the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) was seen up to 1 year after ACL reconstruction, but no clinical significance was noted from 1 to 2 years. Clinically significant improvement in the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) and Lysholm questionnaires was seen up to 6 months postoperatively, but no clinical significance was noted beyond that. Conclusion: After ACL reconstruction, maximal subjective medical improvement is established 1 year postoperatively, with no further perceived clinical improvement beyond this time point according to current PROMs. The KOOS may be a more responsive metric to subjective improvements in this patient cohort than other patient-reported outcomes, such as the IKDC and Lysholm. Clinical Relevance: After ACL reconstruction, patients perceive interval subjective improvements until 1 year postoperatively.

scholarly journals GRAFT CHOICE FOR ADOLESCENT ATHLETES RETURNING TO HIGH-RISK SPORTS: A MATCHED COHORT ANALYSIS OF PATELLAR TENDON AND HAMSTRING AUTOGRAFTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0007
Author(s):  
Crystal Perkins ◽  
Michael Busch ◽  
Melissa Christino ◽  
Belinda Schaafsma ◽  
S. Clifton Willimon
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Patellar Tendon ◽  
Graft Failure ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Graft Rupture ◽  
Graft Choice ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Graft selection for skeletally mature adolescents undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is guided by surgeon and patient preference. In young patients returning to high-risk cutting and pivoting sports, graft rupture is the most feared complication of ACL reconstruction. Some studies have demonstrated slightly lower rates of graft failure and decreased laxity in the short term associated with patellar tendon (BTB) autografts as compared to hamstring (HS) autografts, but these studies are limited by their heterogeneity of ages and activity level1-3. The purpose of this study is to compare the rates of graft failure between BTB and HS ACL reconstruction cohorts matched by age, sex, and sport. Methods: A single-institution retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients less than 19 years of age treated with ACL reconstructions using either patellar tendon (BTB) or hamstring (HS) autograft performed by a single surgeon. Skeletally mature or nearly mature patients in “high-risk” ACL injury sports (basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and gymnastics) were initially treated with hamstring autografts but the graft preference transitioned to BTB autografts as the preferred graft choice during the study period. This transition in graft preference for adolescents participating in “high risk” sports allows for a comparison of outcomes based on graft types. Inclusion criteria were ages 13 – 18 years, participation in a “high risk” sport, and minimum 6-month follow-up. The two cohorts of patients were matched by age, gender, and sport. The primary outcome measure was graft rupture. Results: One hundred fifty-two patients with an average age of 16 years (range 13 – 18 years) underwent ACL reconstruction during the study period. There were 71 BTB reconstructions and 81 HS reconstructions. There were 64 females and 88 males. There was no difference in age, sex, BMI, or laterality between groups. There were more patients who played soccer in the BTB cohort (44%) vs HS cohort (20%) and fewer who played basketball in the BTB cohort (24%) vs HS cohort (41%), p = 0.005. There were no differences between the BTB and HS cohorts in terms of meniscus tears (61% v 72%, p = 0.15), meniscus repair (21% v 32%, p = 0.13), or partial meniscectomy (32% v 33%, p = 0.90). Mean duration of follow-up was 28 months (range 7-57 months). There was no difference in follow-up between cohorts (BTB 28 months and HS 29 months, p = 0.19). There were a total of 16 graft ruptures (10.5%). There was no difference in the rate of graft rupture between cohorts (BTB 8.5% vs HS 12.3%, p = 0.60). Mean time to graft rupture was 21 months (range 8 – 35 months) and Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated no difference between cohorts. Conclusions: ACL reconstruction in adolescents returning to high-risk sports can be performed utilizing BTB or HS autografts with similar rates of graft rupture. There is a trend toward lower rates of graft rupture associated with BTB autografts, but additional patients will be necessary to determine if this trend will become a statistically significant difference. Beynnon BD, Johnson RJ, Fleming BC, et al. Anterior cruciate ligament replacement: comparison of bone-patellar tendon bone grafts with two-strand hamstring grafts. A prospective, randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2002;84(9):1503-1513. Ho B, Edmonds EW, Chambers HG et al. Risk factors for early ACL reconstruction failure in pediatric and adolescent patients: a review of 561 cases. J Pediatr Orthop 2016. Samuelsen BT, Webster KE, Johnson NR, et al. Hamstring autograft versus patellar tendon autograft for ACL reconstruction: is there a difference in graft failure rate? A meta-analysis of 47,613 patients. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2017;475(10):2459-2468.

Fifteen-Year Audit of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstructions in the Australian Football League From 1999 to 2013: Return to Play and Subsequent ACL Injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (14) ◽  
pp. 3353-3360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney C.H. Lai ◽  
Julian A. Feller ◽  
Kate E. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Risk Ratio ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Rates Of Return ◽  
Australian Football League ◽  
Australian Football ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has been a major cause of missed game time among Australian Football League (AFL) players. Return to play after ACL reconstruction is not always achieved, even among elite athletes. The rate of subsequent ACL injury in the AFL from 1990 to 2000 was high as compared with that of other elite sports. Purpose: To determine the rates of return to play and subsequent ACL injury after ACL reconstruction among AFL players from 1999 to 2013 and to explore factors associated with differing rates of return to play and subsequent ACL injury. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 158 AFL players who underwent ACL reconstruction were identified from a prospectively maintained registry of AFL player injuries. Further data were gathered from official playing statistics, surgical records, and structured phone interviews. Results: The rate of return to play after an initial ACL injury was 77% (121 of 158 players). Greater preinjury playing experience and earlier selection in the AFL draft were associated with higher rates of return to play. The rate of subsequent ACL injury to either knee was 30% (48 of 158 players) and was especially high among players aged <21 years (23 of 46 players, 50%). After subsequent ACL injury, 34 of 48 players (71%) returned to play. In primary ACL reconstruction, the use of Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System grafts resulted in a faster return to play ( P = .001) but had a higher risk of subsequent revision reconstruction (risk ratio = 2.8, P = .048). Family history of ACL injury was associated with an increased risk of subsequent contralateral ACL injury (risk ratio = 3.8, P = .002). Conclusion: Most AFL players who underwent ACL reconstruction returned to play at least 1 AFL match. The high rate of subsequent ACL injury among AFL players demonstrates the highly demanding nature of Australian football, particularly at the elite level. The risk factors for subsequent ACL injury should be considered carefully when treatment and rehabilitation decisions are made for these high-demand athletes.

Playing Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Among Australian Football League Players From 1999 to 2013

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1550-1556
Author(s):  
Courtney C.H. Lai ◽  
Julian A. Feller ◽  
Kate E. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Australian Football League ◽  
Australian Football ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Achieving preinjury levels of athletic performance has been challenging for elite athletes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Although a recent study found that 77% of Australian Football League (AFL) players who underwent ACL reconstruction from 1999 to 2013 returned to play at the highest level, the study did not indicate how consistently or well they were able to play. Purpose: To identify the number of AFL players who returned to play consistently over 2 seasons after ACL reconstruction, compare their playing performance in these seasons with preinjury performance, and evaluate factors associated with returning to preinjury levels of performance. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Analysis included 104 AFL players who underwent ACL reconstruction between 1999 and 2013. All had played at least 10 AFL matches in 1 season before ACL injury. Ranking points, as devised by AFL statisticians, were used to measure individual playing performance. Results: Of the 104 players who played at least 10 matches in 1 season before ACL injury, 53 (51%) returned to play at least 10 matches in 2 seasons after surgery. Of these 53 players, 36 (68%) returned to their preinjury levels of performance. The 17 remaining players who did not return to their preinjury performance still performed comparably to the AFL average level after surgery. Players <25 years old (odds ratio = 2.9, P = .01) or <90 kg (odds ratio = 2.7, P = .03) had greater odds of returning to their preinjury levels of performance. Conclusion: Returning to play on a consistent basis was a substantial challenge for AFL players after ACL reconstruction. However, among players who did return to play consistently over 2 seasons, their postsurgery average performance was comparable with the AFL average level of performance, and two-thirds returned to their preinjury levels of performance. Younger and lighter players were more likely to return to their preinjury levels of performance, possibly given the nature of AFL club playing list management decisions.

Secondary Meniscal Tears in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Relationship Among Operative Management, Osteoarthritis, and Arthroplasty at 18-Year Mean Follow-up

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1583-1590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michella H. Hagmeijer ◽  
Mario Hevesi ◽  
Vishal S. Desai ◽  
Thomas L. Sanders ◽  
Christopher L. Camp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Meniscal Tear ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Nonoperative Treatment ◽  
Meniscal Tears ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most frequent orthopaedic injuries and reasons for time loss in sports and carries significant implications, including posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA). Instability associated with ACL injury has been linked to the development of secondary meniscal tears (defined as tears that develop after the initial ACL injury). To date, no study has examined secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury and their effect on OA and arthroplasty risk. Purpose: To describe the rates and natural history of secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury and to determine the effect of meniscal tear treatment on the development of OA and conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A geographic database of >500,000 patients was reviewed to identify patients with primary ACL injuries between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2005. Information was collected with regard to ACL injury treatment, rates/characteristics of the secondary meniscal tears, and outcomes, including development of OA and conversion to TKA. Kaplan-Meier and adjusted multivariate survival analyses were performed to test for the effect of meniscal treatment on survivorship free of OA and TKA. Results: Of 1398 primary ACL injuries, the overall rate of secondary meniscal tears was 16%. Significantly lower rates of secondary meniscal tears were noted among patients undergoing acute ACL reconstruction within 6 months (7%) as compared with patients with delayed ACL reconstruction (33%, P < .01) and nonoperative ACL management (19%, P < .01). Of the 235 secondary meniscal tears identified (196 patients), 11.5% underwent repair, 73% partial meniscectomy, and 16% were treated nonoperatively. Tears were most often medial in location (77%) and complex in morphology (56% of medial tears, 54% of lateral tears). At the time of final follow-up, no patient undergoing repair of a secondary meniscal tear (0%) underwent TKA, as opposed to 10.9% undergoing meniscectomy and 6.1% receiving nonoperative treatment ( P = .28). Conclusion: Secondary meniscal tears after ACL injury are most common among patients undergoing delayed surgical or nonoperative treatment of their primary ACL injuries. Secondary tears often present as complex tears of the medial meniscus and result in high rates of partial meniscectomy.

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