Longer time between anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction is associated with a greater risk of medial meniscus injury

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the impact of delaying reconstruction following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on the risk of meniscal injury and subsequent meniscectomy, the study was carried out. This constitutes the first study of its kind to be conducted in China. Methods This study collected data on patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction surgery at Peking University First Hospital between 2010 and 2022. Patient's injury details, including the time and cause of ACL injury, surgery date and meniscal injury details, were recorded. Patients were stratified into distinct cohorts based on the duration between injury and reconstruction. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of a delayed reconstruction time on the risk of meniscal injury and meniscectomy. Results The study involved patients with an average age of 34.1 ± 11.3 years. Nearly half of the patients (49.74%) had meniscal injuries. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender and the time from ACL trauma to surgery were significantly associated with meniscus injury (p 0.05). Age was significantly associated with the risk of medial meniscectomy (p > 0.05). Time from injury to surgery was not significantly associated with the risk of lateral meniscectomy (p > 0.05). Conclusions Delayed reconstruction beyond 12 months after ACL rupture increases the risk of medial meniscus injury. The risk of meniscus injury after ACL injury is higher in men than in women, and the risk of medial meniscectomy increases with age. Level of Evidence Level III.

Keywords

• Anterior cruciate ligament
• Meniscus
• Meniscectomy
• Suture
• Reconstruction