Association Between Timing Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction And Secondary Meniscus And Cartilage Lesions

Purpose:To determine how the timing of ACL reconstruction affected the incidence of secondary meniscal and cartilage lesions.Study Design:Case series;Level of evidence,4.Methods:A total of 336 cases of primary ACL reconstruction were collected and analyzed by arthroscopy for the meniscus and cartilage lesions.The association between ACL lesion and reconstruction surgery and the incidence of meniscus and cartilage lesions was analyzed by chi-square test or Fisher's test.The risk of secondary lesion was calculated by the odds ratio(ORs).Results:The positive correlation was observed between the time after injury and the presence of any related joint lesions(P = 0.003),cartilage lesions(P = 0.01),and medial meniscus lesions(P<0.001).When the incidence of secondary lesions was analyzed,taking<2 months as a reference,the interval between onset of ACL injury and reconstruction between 12 to 24 months(OR = 2.56)and>24 months(OR = 5.36),the odds of any secondary articular lesions have increased.In addition,the medial meniscus was found to have an increased odds of secondary lesions at intervals of 6 to 12 months(OR = 2.65),when the timing between injury and surgery was 12 to 24 months(OR = 4.07)and>24 months(OR = 10.51),the odds of injury continued to increase,and the odds of cartilage lesion increased when>24 months(OR = 11.00).Conclusions:When the timing of ACL reconstruction surgery was delayed,it may cause secondary articular lesions after ACL injury.When the delayed time is?6 months,the medial meniscus lesion is more common.When the delayed time is?1 year,the cartilage or any meniscal lesion is more common.