Does Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Lead to Degenerative Disease? Thirteen-Year Results After Bone–Patellar Tendon–Bone Autograft

Background: Reporting of long-term outcome of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the patellar tendon (bone–patellar tendon–bone [BTB]) autograft is limited. There are concerns that degenerative joint disease is common in the long term, which may be associated with the procedure itself.Hypotheses: (1) ACL reconstruction with BTB provides good long-term outcome. (2) There are additional factors to surgical reconstruction that can be associated with the development of degenerative disease.Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods: Of 161 patients, 114 were eligible. Patient-centered outcome was by Lysholm and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score; objective outcome measures were clinical examination and IKDC radiological grade.Results: Mean average follow-up was 13 years. The IKDC radiological grades in the worst compartment were A = 15%, B = 51%, C = 19%, and D = 14% (n = 83). There was a significant difference between the injured versus contralat...