Anterior cruciate ligament integrity in osteoarthritis of the knee in patients undergoing total knee replacement.
BACKGROUND
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture has been implicated in the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This study aimed at determining the incidence of prior ACL deficiency in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), the effect of prior ACL deficiency on function and the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the ligament.


METHODS
A total of 95 patients undergoing elective TKR for OA were recruited. Pre-operative knee assessment included questionnaires and KT1000 testing. The ACL was examined macroscopically at TKR in all patients, and 10 ACL specimens were examined histologically.


RESULTS
The ACL was absent in 12% of the patients. There was no significant correlation between the pre-operative assessment or function and operative findings. The ACL samples all demonstrated degenerative change of varying severities.


CONCLUSIONS
ACL deficiency is uncommon in patients undergoing TKR for OA, and does not worsen pre-operative function.
Douglas
M J M
MJ
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK.
Hutchison
J D
JD
Sutherland
A G
AG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012421:Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome