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Long-term follow-up of isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 25, pages 493–500 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The incidence of subsequent meniscal tears and arthritis among patients with isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study was to (1) compare the risk of subsequent meniscal tears and osteoarthritis (OA) between patients with isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction and a matched cohort of individuals without ACL tears and (2) examine factors predictive of long-term sequelae after non-operative treatment of isolated ACL tears.

Methods

This study compared a population-based incidence cohort of 364 patients with new-onset, isolated ACL tears between 1990 and 2000, to an age and sex-matched cohort of 364 individuals without ACL tears. A chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. Subjects were retrospectively followed for mean follow-up of 14.3 years (±7.4 years) to determine the development of subsequent meniscal injury, arthritis, or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Results

Patients treated without ligament reconstruction after ACL tears had a significantly higher risk of secondary meniscal tears (HR 18.0, 95 % CI 9.7, 33.3), arthritis (HR 14.2, 95 % CI 8.0, 25.2), and need of TKA (HR 5.0, 95 % CI 2.1, 12.2) than individuals without ACL tears. Lateral meniscal tear at diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of arthritis (HR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.4, 5.7) and TKA (HR 4.3, 95 % CI 1.3, 13.7). Treatment with meniscectomy was associated with an increased risk of additional meniscal tears (HR 51.5, 95 % CI 10.3, 936.8).

Conclusions

Patients treated non-operatively after isolated ACL tears are at a significantly higher risk of secondary meniscal tears, arthritis, and TKA when compared to age and sex-matched subjects without ACL tears. Additionally, baseline lateral meniscal tears were significantly associated with an increased probability of developing arthritis and the need for TKA. This information may be helpful when counselling patients about the natural history of ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction.

Level of evidence

III.

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Acknowledgments

This study was made possible by the Rochester Epidemiology Project which is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01AG034676. The findings and conclusions of this report are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Thomas L. Sanders, Ayoosh Pareek, Hilal Maradit Kremers, Andrew J. Bryan, Bruce A. Levy, Michael J. Stuart, Diane L. Dahm & Aaron J. Krych

  2. Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Hilal Maradit Kremers

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  1. Thomas L. Sanders
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Correspondence to Thomas L. Sanders.

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Sanders, T.L., Pareek, A., Kremers, H.M. et al. Long-term follow-up of isolated ACL tears treated without ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 493–500 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4172-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4172-4

Keywords

  • Anterior cruciate ligament
  • Non-operative
  • Arthritis
  • Meniscal tear
  • Total knee arthroplasty