Effect of timing of ACL reconstruction in surgery and development of meniscal and chondral lesions

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate whether a delay in the timing of surgery of > 6 months compared with performing the surgery 6 months after ACL injury. "New" meniscal tears were defined as lesions detected at the time of surgery that were not detected by MRI. RESULTS: Of 195 patients who were selected based on inclusion criteria, 171 patients underwent surgery 6 months after their ACL injury. The prevalence of new medial meniscal tears in the early reconstruction group was 4.1%, while in the delayed reconstruction group, the prevalence was 16.7% (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: A delay in the timing of ACL reconstruction from 6 months following injury is associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of medial meniscal tears (P = 0.012), with a relative risk of 4.07 (CI, 1.29-12.88).