Evaluation of associated meniscal and chondral injuries in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee is commonly associated with meniscal and chondral lesions. This study was performed to assess the relative risk factors as well as the extent of the meniscal and chondral pathology at the time of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients undergoing ACL reconstruction were enrolled. Association of meniscal and chondral lesions was analyzed with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), mechanism of injury (sports-related or not), time gap between injury and surgery ( 3 months), and instability episodes. Logistic regression and Pearson Chi-square test were applied for evaluating the association. Results: A total of 55 patients (mean age 30 years [19–50 years]; 45 male:10 female) underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, out of which 20 (36.3%) had isolated lateral meniscus tear, 14 (25.4%) had isolated medial meniscus tear, and 3 (5.4%) had both lateral and medial meniscus tear. BMI (P = 0.031) and instability episodes (P = 0.033) were predictor for meniscal lesions. Male sex was associated with significantly higher medial (P = 0.049) and lateral meniscal (P = 0.008) lesions. The older age group (>30 years) was associated with medial meniscus lesions (P = 0.047), while the younger age group ( 3 months) had a significantly higher risk of medial meniscus lesions (P = 0.006). Age (>30 years) (P = 0.002) and obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2) (P = 0.043) were predictors of chondral lesions. Conclusion: Significant association is observed between age (>30 years), male gender, obesity, and chronicity with medial meniscal injuries in patients with an ACL injury, while younger patients ( 30 kg/m2) were predictors of chondral lesions in ACL injury.