Meniscal Preservation is More Likely When Performed with Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair Rather Than with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract

Introduction: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) often occurs in conjunction with meniscal tears. In this study, we investigate the rates and outcomes of meniscal repair surgery performed with ACL reconstruction compared with acute ACL repair surgery.

Materials and methods: Data was collected for all patients undergoing surgery for ACL ruptures between 2012 and 2018, including ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft and primary ACL repair augmented with suture tape. Patients undergoing multi-ligament surgery were excluded. Meniscal injury was evaluated intraoperatively and the treatment was determined by type of tear, reducibility, and quality of meniscal tissue. If possible, tears were repaired using all-inside anchors and all others were resected.

Results: There were 272 ACL reconstructions and 134 ACL repairs, and mean age was 28 (±9) and 35 (±14) years, respectively (p <0.01). The mean Tegner activity score was 6.6 in both groups. The mean interval from injury to surgery was longer in the reconstruction group (26.2 vs. 1.3 months, p <0.01). Fifty-five percent of reconstructions and 43% of ACL repairs required meniscal surgery at the time of their ACL procedure. In the reconstruction group, 123 (70%) were meniscectomies and 53 (30%) were meniscal repairs, compared to 31 (50%) of each in the ACL repair group. Meniscal repair was more likely to be possible when carried out as part of acute ACL repair surgery, c2(1, n=238)=7.94, p <0.01. The success rate of meniscal repair was 97% in both groups.

Conclusions: The rate of meniscal repair is 67% higher when performed early with ACL repair. When ACL reconstruction is performed, meniscal resection was more likely. Rates of post-traumatic osteoarthritis are high after ACL reconstruction when performed with meniscal resection. Furthermore, the success rate of meniscal repair in conjunction with ACL surgery is high (97%). Therefore, meniscal repair should be encouraged whenever possible to improve long-term outcomes.