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. 2009 Oct;22(4):347-57.
doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1247773.

Meniscus status at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction associated with radiographic signs of osteoarthritis at 5- to 10-year follow-up: a systematic review

Robert A Magnussen  1 , Alfred A Mansour, James L Carey, Kurt P Spindler
Affiliations

Meniscus status at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction associated with radiographic signs of osteoarthritis at 5- to 10-year follow-up: a systematic review

Robert A Magnussen et al. J Knee Surg. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

The development of premature osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a significant cause of morbidity in young, active individuals. Meniscal injuries are frequently noted at the time of reconstruction, and the critical role of an intact meniscus in the prevention of osteoarthritis has been well documented. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the effects of meniscal status at ACL reconstruction on the subsequent development of osteoarthritis. A systematic review of the literature identified 11 studies with > or = 2 years of follow-up that compared patients' radiographic outcomes based on meniscus status at the time of ACL reconstruction. Patients undergoing partial meniscectomy at the time of ACL reconstruction were significantly more likely to develop radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis than those with normal menisci. Meniscal repair resulted in inconsistent findings. Virtually all patients who underwent complete meniscectomy at the time of ACL reconstruction had radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis at follow-up.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The search strategy of the systemic review is shown, including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, as well as a search of the references of all full-text articles. Eleven studies were identified for nclusion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relative risk of development of radiographic signs of osteoarthritis in patients with partial meniscectomy was calculated by dividing the percentage of patients with a partial meniscectomy at the time of ACL reconstruction who developed signs of osteoarthritis by the percentage of patients with a normal meniscus who developed signs of osteoarthritis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The absolute risk reduction of the development of osteoarthritis associated with a normal meniscus was calculated by subtracting the percentage of patients with a normal meniscus at the time of ACL reconstruction who developed signs of osteoarthritis from the percentage of patients with a partial meniscectomy who developed signs of osteoarthritis.
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