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Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed within 12 months of the index injury is associated with a lower rate of medial meniscus tears

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

To verify the correlation of time to surgery with the prevalence of concomitant intra-articular injuries detected on arthroscopy during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods

The medical records of 653 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors that were associated with the presence of at least one intra-articular injury, medial meniscus tears, lateral meniscus tears and chondral injuries at the time of surgery. Further univariate analysis was conducted to determine the earliest time-point for surgery, after which the rate of concomitant injuries was significantly higher.

Results

Longer time to surgery (OR 1.019 95% CI 1.010, 1.028, p = 0.000), male sex (OR 1.695 95% CI 1.074, 2.675 p = 0.023), and higher BMI (OR 1.050 95% CI 1.006, 1.097 p = 0.025) were correlated with a higher prevalence of medial meniscus tears. There was an increased prevalence of medial meniscus tears when surgery was carried out more than 12 months after the index injury (OR 2.274 95% CI 1.469, 3.522, p = 0.000). The correlation between longer time to surgery and chondral injuries approached statistical significance (OR 1.006 95% CI 0.999, 1.012, p = 0.073). However, a longer time to surgery was not associated with an increased prevalence of lateral meniscus tears (OR 1.003 95% CI 0.998, 1.009, p = n.s.).

Conclusions

Longer time to surgery is associated with an increased prevalence of medial meniscus tears in ACL reconstruction. Surgery performed within 12 months of the index injury reduces the prevalence of medial meniscus tears. Prioritizing males and overweight patients for counselling and early intervention can be considered.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic level III retrospective cohort study.

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Acknowledgements

All contributors have been listed as authors in the study.

Funding

No funding was obtained or provided for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National University Hospital Sports Centre, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119288, Singapore

    Ying Ren Mok, Keng Lin Wong, Taufiq Panjwani, Shi Jie Toh & Lingaraj Krishna

  2. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117549, Singapore

    Chloe Xiaoyun Chan

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  1. Ying Ren Mok
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  2. Keng Lin Wong
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Correspondence to Ying Ren Mok.

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This study was ethically approved by the National University Hospital (NUH) institutional review board (IRB) and the National Health Care Group (NHG) domain-specific review board (DSRB) under the reference number (2016/01003).

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Mok, Y.R., Wong, K.L., Panjwani, T. et al. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed within 12 months of the index injury is associated with a lower rate of medial meniscus tears. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 27, 117–123 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5027-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5027-y

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