Meniscal injuries associated with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament: a retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the extent of meniscal involvement when the anterior cruciate ligament is torn. Data from 189 cases operated on for lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament form the basis of this report. The patients chosen for this study were all athletes forming two main groups. In one group, 82 patients were operated on immediately after their initial injury and in the other group 107 patients came for treatment because of persistent symptoms. It was recorded in the case notes whether there were any articular cartilage changes found at operation. Meniscal involvement was noted in 24.4 per cent of the patients of the first group. In particular, the meniscus was found to be torn in 20.6 per cent of the so-called 'isolated' tears and in 27.1 per cent of the combined cruciate injuries. No articular cartilage changes were noted in this group. In the second group meniscal injuries were seen in 61.6 per cent of the cases. More specifically, the menisci were involved in 26.7 per cent of the knees with first-degree instability, in 57.5 per cent with second-degree, rising to 75 per cent in knees with third-degree instability. Articular cartilage changes were seen in 20 per cent, 67.5 per cent and 78.8 per cent respectively. There is ample evidence in our study of the progressive meniscal involvement and degeneration in the knee of the athletically active individual after an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.