Dataset Information

Outcomes >30 Years After Initial Nonoperative Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is unclear how anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) affects the development of osteoarthritis (OA). This uncertainty is partly caused by the lack of long-term studies on ACL injuries treated primarily without reconstruction and the underreporting of symptomatic OA.

Purpose

To determine (1) the knee function, symptoms, and activity level, as well as the presence of radiographic and symptomatic OA; (2) how these clinical outcomes have changed over time; and (3) the frequency of subsequent knee surgeries after the index ACL injury in a cohort of patients with ACL injuries treated primarily without reconstruction.

Study design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A total of 100 patients underwent initial nonoperative treatment >30 years ago (mean, 33.2 ± 1.4 years). Of these, 81 patients (mean age, 59 ± 8 years) completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and Tegner Activity Scale. Seventy-three patients underwent radiography to evaluate tibiofemoral and patellofemoral OA in the ACL-injured knee. Patients only underwent late ACLR if they experienced insufficient knee stability.

Results

At 33 years after the ACL injury, the KOOS Activities of Daily Living subscore was better than population-based reference values, but scores were similar for the remaining KOOS subscales. Furthermore, 65% of patients had a good or excellent Lysholm score (≥84 points). The Tegner score decreased 4 points from before the injury to 33-year follow-up (P < .001). Most patients (75%) had evidence of radiographic tibiofemoral and/or patellofemoral OA, but only 38% were classified as having symptomatic OA (defined as radiographic OA in combination with a symptomatic knee according to cutoffs on the KOOS). Approximately 50% underwent meniscal surgery, and 29% subsequently underwent ACLR for recurrent instability. There were 2 patients who underwent total knee replacement.

Conclusion

Despite a high prevalence of radiographic OA, patients achieved acceptable subjective knee function and had a relatively low prevalence of symptomatic OA at >30 years after an ACL injury when an initial nonoperative treatment strategy was employed.

SUBMITTER: Hellberg C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10838478 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Outcomes >30 Years After Initial Nonoperative Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Hellberg Clara C Kostogiannis Ioannis I Stylianides Alexandros A Neuman Paul P

The American journal of sports medicine 20240109 2

<h4>Background</h4>It is unclear how anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) affects the development of osteoarthritis (OA). This uncertainty is partly caused by the lack of long-term studies on ACL injuries treated primarily without reconstruction and the underreporting of symptomatic OA.<h4>Purpose</h4>To determine (1) the knee function, symptoms, and activity level, as well as the presence of radiographic and symptomatic OA; (2) how these clinical outcomes have changed over tim ...[more]

PMID: 38193189

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a risk factor for early osteoarthritis (OA) onset. Generally, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with better outcomes. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of operative versus nonoperative treatment for preventing premature knee OA in isolated ACL tears while achieving good functional outcomes.Purpose/hypothesisThe purpose of the study was to compare the outcomes of ACLR to primarily nonoperative management of isolated ACL tears. It was hypothesized that the outcomes between treatment types would be similar.Study designSystematic review; Level of evidence, 3.MethodsThis systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration No. CRD42021285901) and was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook guidelines. We systematically searched for randomized and nonrandomized studies that compared ACLR with nonoperative treatments in isolated ACL tears in 3 databases until October 25, 2021. The risk of bias and quality of evidence of the included studies was assessed in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines. The primary outcome was radiologic signs of OA, and the secondary outcomes were functional parameters. Using the common effects model, we calculated pooled mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.ResultsFive studies-2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 retrospective non-RCTs-were included. There was a moderate risk of bias in 2 studies and a serious risk of bias in 1 study. The quality of evidence was rated low because of the higher risk of bias and inconsistency. Nonoperatively treated knees showed a trend toward lower odds of developing radiological signs of OA (OR, 1.84 [95% CI, 0.90 to 3.75]); however, surgically reconstructed knees had significantly better stability (MD, -2.44 [95% CI, -3.21 to -1.66 ]) and a trend toward better but clinically not meaningful Lysholm scores (MD, 2.88 [95% CI, -1.09 to 6.85]). The qualitative synthesis showed that surgical reconstruction was protective against subsequent injuries but not superior when returning to previous activity levels or various functional tests.ConclusionFindings indicated that there is no certain evidence that ACLR for an isolated ACL tear is superior to nonoperative treatment. Clinicians should consider nonoperative treatments with a well-designed rehabilitative program as a primary option. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution because of low study quality and high risk of bias.

Project description:PURPOSE:To evaluate differences in repair and nonoperatively managed grade III medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS:Patients enrolled in a multicenter prospective longitudinal group who underwent unilateral primary ACL reconstruction between 2002 and 2008 were evaluated. Patients with concomitant grade III MCL injuries treated either operatively or nonoperatively were identified. Concurrent injuries, subsequent surgeries, surgical chronicity, and MCL tear location were analyzed. Patient-reported outcomes were measured at time of ACL reconstruction and 2-year follow-up. RESULTS:Initially, 3,028 patients were identified to have undergone primary ACL reconstruction during the time frame; 2,586 patients completed 2-year follow-up (85%). Grade III MCL tears were documented in 1.1% (27 of 2,586): 16 operatively managed patients and 11 nonoperatively treated MCLs during ACL reconstruction. The baseline Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and International Knee Documentation Committee scores were lower in patients who underwent operative MCL treatment. Reoperation rates for arthrofibrosis were 19% after repair and 9% after conservative management (P = .48). At 2 years, both groups significantly improved; however, the nonoperative MCL group maintained superior patient-reported outcomes in terms of minimal clinically important differences, but these differences did not reach statistical significance (KOOS sports/recreation [88.2 vs 74.4, P = .10], KOOS knee-related quality of life [81.3 vs 68.4, P = .13], and International Knee Documentation Committee [87.6 vs 76.0, P = .14]). Tibial-sided MCL injuries were associated with clinically inferior baseline scores compared with femoral-sided MCL (KOOS knee-related quality of life, 34.4 vs 18.5, P = .09), but these differences resolved by 2 years. Surgical chronicity did not influence 2-year outcome. CONCLUSIONS:Both operative and nonoperative management of MCL tears in our patient group demonstrated clinical improvements between study enrollment and 2-year follow-up. MCL surgery during ACL reconstruction was assigned to patients with worse symptoms at enrollment and was associated with worse outcomes at 2 years. A subset of patients with severe combined ACL and medial knee injuries may benefit from operative management; however, that population has yet to be defined. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Level III, retrospective cohort.

Project description:PurposeTo compare subjective outcomes and rates of subsequent operations for patients aged 40 years and older with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures who elected nonoperative management or allograft ACL reconstruction (ACLR).MethodsThis was a retrospective study comparing 2-year minimum results of nonoperative treatment and primary allograft ACLR among patients aged 40 years and older presenting to a single institution between the years 2005 and 2016. Patients who elected nonoperative management were 2:1 propensity score (PS)-matched to patients who elected ACLR based on age, sex, body mass index, sports-related mechanism of injury, Outerbridge grade III or IV chondral lesions, and medial or lateral meniscus tears. Univariate analysis was performed to compare subjective outcome measures of International Knee Documentation Committee and Marx activity level scores, subsequent operations, and satisfaction rates.ResultsAfter 2:1 PS matching, 40 ACLR and 20 nonoperative patients with mean ages of 52.2 years and 54.5 years, respectively, were included with a mean follow-up of 5.7 years (SD 2.1 years, range 2.3-10.6 years). There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the matching variables. There were no significant differences in International Knee Documentation Committee scores (81.9 ± 14.1, CI 77.4-86.5 vs 84.3 ± 12.8, CI 78.3-90.3, P = .53), Marx activity level scores (5.8 ± 4.8, CI 4.2-7.3 vs 5.7 ± 5.1, CI 3.3-8.1, P = .96), or satisfaction rates (100% vs 90%, P = .11) between the ACLR and nonoperative groups. Four (10%) patients who underwent ACLR sustained a graft treated with revision ACLR. 7 (17.5%) ACLR and 0 nonoperative patients subsequently received further ipsilateral knee surgeries (P = .08), including 2 total knee arthroplasties.ConclusionsIn this PS-matched analysis of patients aged 40 years and older with ACL ruptures, patients who elected nonoperative management had similar subjective outcomes compared with those who elected allograft ACLR. Patients who elected allograft ACLR did not have fewer subsequent operations than those who elected nonoperative treatment.Level of evidenceLevel III, retrospective cohort study.

Project description:PurposeTo assess failure rate, outcomes, and patient satisfaction in patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair with suture augmentation for clinical instability and proximal avulsion of the ACL.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed consecutive suture-augmented ACL repairs performed by a single surgeon between January 2014 and June 2016 for proximal ACL avulsion. Patients were included if they were at least 24 months postoperative from repair surgery. Patients were excluded from the study if they underwent primary ACL reconstruction instead of repair or if they had a concomitant multiligamentous knee injury. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), visual analog scale (VAS), Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12), Marx Activity, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation data were collected.ResultsOf 172 patients who underwent ACL surgery between January 2014 and June 2016, 28 (16%) with Sherman type I or II ACL tears or high-grade partial avulsion with clinical instability underwent ACL repair with suture augmentation. One patient was not available for follow-up. The 27 patients were age 27.4 ± 8.6 years, 18 males (66.7%), and 2.8 ± 0.7 years follow-up (range, 2.0-3.8 years). Of these 27 patients, 4 recurrent ACL injuries (14.8%) required revision to reconstruction. The remaining 23 patients had successful ACL repair with no clinical instability and no subjective complaints at final follow-up. Final scores were KOOS 83.7 ± 12.8, Marx 8.6 ± 4.0, VAS 1.1 ± 1.8, physical VR-12 53.6 ± 5.2, mental VR-12 53.1 ± 8.1, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation 83.0 ± 12.9. In the 11 patients with baseline data, significant improvements were observed in composite KOOS (50.4 ± 11.5 to 85.7 ± 8.4; P < .001; VAS: 3.9 ± 2.6 to 0.8 ± 0.8; P = .002; and physical VR-12: 39.9 ± 6.5 to 55.5 ± 3.3; P < .001). All 11 patients (100%) met or exceeded the KOOS composite minimum clinically important difference (mean 34.0 increase).ConclusionsIn patients with proximal ACL avulsion, arthroscopic primary ACL repair with suture augmentation demonstrated high functional outcome and improved patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up. The rate of graft failure was 15%.Level of evidenceLevel IV, therapeutic case series.

Project description:BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate clinical and radiological results after simultaneous open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients with ACL deficiency combined with medial uni-compartmental osteoarthritis (OA) and varus deformity.MethodsThis retrospective study was performed using data collected from 2005 to 2011 on a total of 24 patients who were diagnosed with ACL injury and medial unicompartmental OA with varus deformity, and who subsequently underwent simultaneous open-wedge HTO and arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. The mean follow-up duration was 5.2 years. For clinical outcomes, we evaluated Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, range of motion, Lachmann test, and pivot-shift test, and for radiological outcomes, we evaluated the degree of varus deformity, progression of medial OA, tibial posterior slope, anterior instability, and postoperative complication.ResultsThere were no limitations in range of motion found in any cases. Three patients showed progressive osteoarthritis on the medial compartment. The mechanical femorotibial angle was significantly corrected from varus 7.0 degrees to valgus 1.2 degrees, and the tibial posterior slope was not significantly changed. The Lysholm and Tegner activity scores were significantly improved after surgery (from 58 to 94 points on the Lysholm scale and from 4.0 to 5.3 points on the Tegner activity scale). Although the Lachman test and the pivot-shift test showed significant improvements after surgery, instability greater than Gr II was observed in three patients on the Lachman test and in four patients on the pivot-shift test. The side-to-side difference improved from 9.6 mm to 4.2 mm postoperatively as assessed using a Telos® arthrometer. There were no cases of nonunion or fixation loss.ConclusionsSimultaneous open-wedge HTO and ACL reconstruction in patients with ACL injury with medial compartmental OA showed satisfactory functional outcomes and postoperative activity level scores. However, some patients showed residual instability and progression of OA.

Dataset Information

Outcomes >30 Years After Initial Nonoperative Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Background

Purpose

Study design

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Outcomes >30 Years After Initial Nonoperative Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets