Effect of Concomitant Lateral Meniscal Management on ACL Reconstruction Revision Rate and Secondary Meniscal and Cartilaginous Injuries

Background: Simultaneous meniscal tears are often present with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and in the acute setting, the lateral meniscus (LM) is more commonly injured than the medial meniscus. Purpose: To investigate how a concomitant LM injury, repaired, resected, or left in situ during primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR), affects the ACL revision rate and cartilaginous and meniscal status at the time of revision within 2 years after the primary ACLR. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data for 31,705 patients with primary ACLR, extracted from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry, were used. The odds of revision ACLR, and cartilaginous as well as meniscal injuries at the time of revision ACLR, were assessed between the unexposed comparison group (isolated ACLR) and the exposed groups of interest (ACLR 1 LM repair, ACLR 1 LM resection, ACLR 1 LM repair 1 LM resection, or ACLR 1 LM injury left in situ). Results: In total, 719 (2.5%) of the included 29,270 patients with 2 years follow-up data underwent revision ACLR within 2 years after the primary ACLR. No significant difference in revision rate was found between the groups. Patients with concomitant LM repair (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.57-8.10; P =.0024) or LM resection (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.18-2.62; P =.0055) had higher odds of concomitant meniscal injuries (medial or lateral) at the time of revision ACLR than patients undergoing isolated primary ACLR. Additionally, higher odds of concomitant cartilage injuries at the time of revision ACLR were found in patients with LM resection at index ACLR compared with patients undergoing isolated primary ACLR (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.14-2.63; P =.010). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated higher odds of meniscal and cartilaginous injuries at the time of revision ACLR within 2 years after primary ACLR 1 LM resection and higher odds of meniscal injury at the time of revision ACLR within 2 years after primary ACLR 1 LM repair compared with isolated ACLR. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of concomitant cartilaginous and meniscal injuries at the time of revision ACLR after index ACLR with concomitant LM injury, regardless of the index treatment type received.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of concomitant lateral meniscal (LM) injuries on ACL revision rate and cartilaginous and meniscal status in patients with ACL injuries. The results show that concomitant LM repair or resection during primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with higher risks of meniscal injuries, and LM resection increases the risk of cartilage injuries. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of concomitant cartilaginous and meniscal injuries in patients with LM injuries.