Patterns of meniscal injury with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears

Abstract

One hundred two patients underwent an arthrotomy for the primary repair of an acute ACL tear with or without an associated collateral ligament injury. The mean age was 23 years. Forty-seven patients (46%) had meniscal injuries. Meniscal injuries were found in 41% of Group I patients (isolated ACL injuries) and in 54% of Group II patients (injured ACL/collateral ligaments). Twenty-eight medial and 22 lateral meniscal tears were noted. Twenty-six of the 50 meniscal tears (52%) were sutured in an attempt to repair the menisci. Of these, 20 of the medial (71%), and 6 of the lateral (27%) meniscal injuries were sutured. No patients in this series required a total meniscectomy. A thorough evaluation of the menisci is mandatory in knees with an acutely injured ACL.

Recent Advances in the Rehabilitation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

“…27,111 Shelbourne et al 153 stated that meniscal tears in the ACL-injured knee typically occur traumatically and are nondegenerative in nature compared to meniscal tears in ACL-intact knees. If meniscal pathology is present, a partial meniscectomy or meniscus repair may be necessary to alleviate symptoms.…”

Patterns of Meniscal Damage Associated with Acute ACL Rupture

“…The loss of ACL function increases tibial translation, allowing the meniscus to "engage" the femoral condyle and act as a wedge against the tibia [22,23], while others have suggested that mechanical trauma causes the MMTs in this setting [12,18,20]. Several studies have explored the relationship between ACL injury and meniscal tear [24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Some showed preponderance of the LMTs in the acute setting and in osteoarthritis [24,25], others suggested the MMTs especially in acute reconstructions [26][27][28][29].…”

“…Several studies have explored the relationship between ACL injury and meniscal tear [24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Some showed preponderance of the LMTs in the acute setting and in osteoarthritis [24,25], others suggested the MMTs especially in acute reconstructions [26][27][28][29].…”

Evolution of Intrameniscal Signal-Intensity Alterations Detected on MRI Over 24 Months in Patients With Traumatic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

“…The reported incidence of meniscal injury varies considerably, ranging from 16% to 82% in patients with acute ACL tears and up to 96% in those with chronic ACL tears [3,4]. The lateral meniscus is injured more often in patients with acute ACL tears, and the medial meniscus is more likely involved in those with chronic ACL tears [4,5].MRI is a sensitive noninvasive method for assessing joint morphology [6,7] and is highly accurate in depicting ACL tears and associated abnormalities, especially of the soft-tissue structures of the joint [8,9]. With arthroscopy being considered the standard of reference, MRI shows a high sensitivity (93% for the medial meniscus and 79% for the lateral meniscus) and specificity (88% for the medial meniscus and 96% for the lateral meniscus) for the detection of meniscal tears…”

“…The reported incidence of meniscal injury varies considerably, ranging from 16% to 82% in patients with acute ACL tears and up to 96% in those with chronic ACL tears [3,4]. The lateral meniscus is injured more often in patients with acute ACL tears, and the medial meniscus is more likely involved in those with chronic ACL tears [4,5].…”