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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2/2017

01-02-2017 | Knee

Cartilage morphology at 2–3 years following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without concomitant meniscal pathology

Authors: Xinyang Wang, Yuanyuan Wang, Kim L. Bennell, Tim V. Wrigley, Flavia M. Cicuttini, Karine Fortin, David J. Saxby, Ans Van Ginckel, Alasdair R. Dempsey, Nicole Grigg, Christopher Vertullo, Julian A. Feller, Tim Whitehead, David G. Lloyd, Adam L. Bryant

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine differences in cartilage morphology between young adults 2–3 years post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), with or without meniscal pathology, and control participants.

Methods

Knee MRI was performed on 130 participants aged 18–40 years (62 with isolated ACLR, 38 with combined ACLR and meniscal pathology, and 30 healthy controls). Cartilage defects, cartilage volume and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were assessed from MRI using validated methods.

Results

Cartilage defects were more prevalent in the isolated ACLR (69 %) and combined group (84 %) than in controls (10 %, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the combined group showed higher prevalence of cartilage defects on medial femoral condyle (OR 4.7, 95 % CI 1.3–16.6) and patella (OR 7.8, 95 % CI 1.5–40.7) than the isolated ACLR group. Cartilage volume was lower in both ACLR groups compared with controls (medial tibia, lateral tibia and patella, P < 0.05), whilst prevalence of BMLs was higher on lateral tibia (P < 0.001), with no significant differences between the two ACLR groups for either measure.

Conclusions

Cartilage morphology was worse in ACLR patients compared with healthy controls. ACLR patients with associated meniscal pathology have a higher prevalence of cartilage defects than ACLR patients without meniscal pathology. The findings suggest that concomitant meniscal pathology may lead to a greater risk of future OA than isolated ACLR.

Level of evidence

III.
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Metadata
Title
Cartilage morphology at 2–3 years following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without concomitant meniscal pathology
Authors
Xinyang Wang
Yuanyuan Wang
Kim L. Bennell
Tim V. Wrigley
Flavia M. Cicuttini
Karine Fortin
David J. Saxby
Ans Van Ginckel
Alasdair R. Dempsey
Nicole Grigg
Christopher Vertullo
Julian A. Feller
Tim Whitehead
David G. Lloyd
Adam L. Bryant
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3831-1

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