Untreated asymptomatic deep cartilage lesions associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury: results at 10- and 15-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Chondral lesions are often documented at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. They are usually asymptomatic. It is not known if these lesions change the outcome of current ACL treatments.


OBJECTIVE
Untreated deep cartilage lesions incidentally found during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction do not affect clinical and radiological results.


METHODS
Case control study; Level of evidence, 3.


METHODS
From 1991 to 1995, 586 anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were performed; 51 of these were in patients with a concomitant single focal chondral lesion of Outerbridge grade 3 or 4. The mean defect size was 2.1 cm(2) (range, 0.5-4.0 cm(2)). The control group (anterior cruciate ligament injury only) was matched for sex, age, and operation time. Outcomes were reported at 10- and 15-year follow-up using International Knee Documentation Committee criteria, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity scale.


RESULTS
Forty-two patients were evaluated at 10-year follow-up and 36 at 15-year follow-up. At 10-year follow-up according to Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee objective scores, no statistical differences were noted between the groups. The mean total International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score was significantly lower in the defect group than in the control group (mean, 79.6 points vs 83.7; P = .031). At 15 years, there were no statistical differences according to Lysholm, Tegner, and either objective or subjective International Knee Documentation Committee scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep cartilage lesions found during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, left with no treatment, do not appear to affect clinical outcome at 10- and 15-year follow-up.
Widuchowski
Wojciech
W
Department of the Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology, District Hospital of Traumatology, Piekary Slaskie, Poland. sportmed@sportmed.com.pl
Widuchowski
Jerzy
J
Koczy
Bogdan
B
Szyluk
Karol
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D055815:Young Adult