Jumping versus nonjumping anterior cruciate ligament injuries: a comparison of pathology.
OBJECTIVE
To compare pathology in knees with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury as a result of a jumping mechanism with knees injured from a nonjumping mechanism.


METHODS
This was a prospective study of 263 consecutive patients with a complete ACL tear and no subsequent giving way episodes nor reinjuries prior to undergoing an ACL reconstruction. The patients were placed into one of two groups: those with knees injured as a result of a jumping injury, and those with knees injured as a result of a nonjumping injury.


METHODS
This study was performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.


METHODS
Anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees undergoing ACL reconstruction. Two hundred thirty-eight (91%) of the patients were injured while participating in sports.


METHODS
Intra-articular pathology documented prospectively at the time of arthroscopy.


RESULTS
Knees injured as a result of a jumping mechanism had a higher incidence of medial (p = 0.05) and lateral (p = 0.03) meniscal tears and a lower incidence of medial collateral ligament injuries (p = 0.05). No difference in arthroscopic articular cartilage injuries was seen between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that identifying jumping as a mechanism of ACL tears is important, since a jumping mechanism is associated with a significantly increased meniscus tear rate and may predispose this population to future degenerative changes.
Paul
Jonathan J
JJ
Section of Sports Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA.
Spindler
Kurt P
KP
Andrish
Jack T
JT
Parker
Richard D
RD
Secic
Michelle
M
Bergfeld
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies