Anterior cruciate ligament injuries. To counsel or to operate?
Untreated anterior cruciate ligament injuries in 97 knees of 87 patients were reviewed after a mean interval of six years. After their initial recovery 63% of the patients were able to return to their pre-injury sport, but six years later 27% of them had deteriorated to the extent that they could not cope with the same level of sport. Radiological deterioration was maximal in those that had had a meniscectomy more than five years before review. Knees with intact menisci were often radiologically normal despite continuing instability.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries