Effect of Menisectomy on Recovery of Proprioceptive Deficits Following Arthroscopic Acl Reconstruction

Abstract

Introduction: Decrease in proprioception and kinesthesia occurs after ACL injury. Changes occurring within the joint following injury affect normal recruitment and firing patterns of the surrounding musculature. There are little data in the literature with reference to effect of concomitant menisectomy on recovery of proprioceptive deficits after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.Objective: To determine the effect of concomitant menisectomy on proprioception recovery after arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring graft. Materials and Methods:In this study, 42 arthroscopic ACL reconstruction patients were randomized into Group ACL+MM which underwent ACL reconstruction and menisectomy for concomitant meniscal tears and Group ACL who underwent ACL reconstruction alone. Outcome Assessment was done at 1 month, 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery in which patients were assessed using Star excursion balance test by measuring excursion distances in each of the 8 directions.Results: Excursion distances in eight directions showed less increment inACL+MM group with compared to ACL group. However it was found to be statistically significant only for posteromedial, lateral and medial directions.Conclusion: Concomitant menisectomy does affect the recovery of dynamic proprioceptive deficits and the recovery phase is longer after arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction compared to ACL reconstruction alone.