title: Effect of anterior cruciate ligament rupture on secondary damage to menisci and articular cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture on secondary damage to menisci and articular cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 366 patients with knee ACL rupture were divided into the following six groups based on the time span from the initial injury to ACL reconstruction: (1) <1.5months; (2) between 1.5 and three months; (3) between three and six months; (4) between six and 12months; (5) between 12 and 24months, and (6) >24months. During ACL reconstruction, impairment of meniscal or chondral integrity was systematically documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 366 patients involved in this study, meniscal and chondral damage were found in 223 (60.9%) and 75 (20.5%) patients, respectively. In addition, the incidence of medial meniscal and chondral damage was significantly increased when ACL reconstruction was delayed. The incidence of medial meniscal and chondral damage was found to be 6.1 and 9.9 times higher in patients with a time from initial injury (TFI) of >24months than those with a TFI of <1.5months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, correlations between secondary damage to the menisci and/or the articular cartilage and time after initial injury were found in Chinese population. Our data suggested that ACL reconstruction should be performed as early as possible after ACL rupture to avoid secondary meniscal and/or chondral damage. It is recommended that the best time range for ACL reconstruction is between four and six weeks after initial injury.
authors: Center of Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Shapingba, People's Republic of China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Yan
authors: Military Training Medicine Institute in the 150th Hospital of PLA, Luoyang, Henan, People's Republic of China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Xie
authors: Center of Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Shapingba, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaoyuan
authors: X
authors: Gong
authors: Center of Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Shapingba, People's Republic of China.
authors: Fuyou
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Center of Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, Shapingba, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: yangliuyf@163.com.
authors: Liu
authors: L
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACL rupture; Meniscal and chondral damage