Young ACL Sufferers: Increased Risk for Later Knee Arthritis?

Researchers from Sweden have determined that young people who have an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may be at increased risk for arthritis in that knee later in life. The study included 32 people who had ACL reconstruction when they were aged 12 to 16 and were assessed 10 to 20 years after their surgery. Evidence of osteoarthritis was found in 65%of the knees that had the surgery, compared with 14% of non-injured knees.

“Long-term follow-ups after the surgical treatment of ACL injuries in kids are rare and this is one of the few studies that has been able to track individuals, ” said lead author Olle Mansson, M.D., in the March 15, 2014 news release. Dr. Mansson is from NU-Hospital Group in Uddevalla, Sweden.

“Often these procedures do allow individuals to return to the playing field and continue an active lifestyle, ” Dr. Mansson added. “However, it is still important to evaluate long-term effects such as osteoarthritis when considering surgeries for these pediatric patients.”

Although the study found an association between ACL reconstruction in kids and a raised risk of knee arthritis later in life, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Dr. Mansson told OTW, “I was surprised by the high degree of osteoarthritic changes in the operated knee. Orthopedic surgeons should inform the patient the risk of developing osteoarthritis after ACL reconstruction.

Asked if he were to redo the study, what he might change, Dr. Mansson said, “It would be interesting to have a control group that had ACL injury and no operation.”