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Earlier anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with a decreased risk of medial meniscal and articular cartilage damage in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the association between surgical timing and the incidence of secondary meniscal or chondral damage in children and adolescents with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures.

Methods

Three electronic databases, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, were systematically searched from database inception until October 16, 2017 by two reviewers independently and in duplicate. The inclusion criteria were English language studies that reported the incidence of meniscal and articular cartilage damage in children or adolescent athletes with ACL injuries as well as the timing of their ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Risk ratios were combined in a meta-analysis using a random effects model.

Results

A total of nine studies including 1353 children and adolescents met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of patients included was 14.2 years (range 6–19), and 45% were female. There was a significantly decreased risk of concomitant medial meniscal injury in those reconstructed early (26%) compared to those with delayed reconstruction (47%) [pooled risk ratio (RR) = 0.49, 95% CI 0.36–0.65, p < 0.00001]. There was also a significantly reduced risk of medial femoral chondral (RR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.31–0.75, p = 0.001), lateral femoral chondral (RR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.20–0.75, p = 0.005), tibial chondral (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.75, p = 0.002), and patellofemoral chondral (RR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.82, p = 0.01) damage in the early reconstruction group in comparison to the delayed group.

Conclusion

Pooled results from observational studies suggest that early ACLR results in a significantly decreased risk of secondary medial meniscal injury, as well as secondary medial, lateral, and patellofemoral compartment chondral damage in children and adolescents. This study provides clinicians with valuable information regarding the benefits of early ACL reconstruction in children and adolescents, and can be used in the decision making for athletes in this population.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main St West, 4E15, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada

    Jeffrey Kay, Muzammil Memon, Devin Peterson & Olufemi R. Ayeni

  2. Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Ajay Shah

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Yi-Meng Yen

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Kristian Samuelsson

  5. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Nicole Simunovic

  6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Helene Flageole

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  1. Jeffrey Kay
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Correspondence to Olufemi R. Ayeni.

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This is a systematic review of the literature and no ethical approval is required.

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Kay, J., Memon, M., Shah, A. et al. Earlier anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is associated with a decreased risk of medial meniscal and articular cartilage damage in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 26, 3738–3753 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-018-5012-5

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