Does age, time since injury and meniscal injury affect short term functional outcomes in arthroscopic single bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to correlate the short term clinical outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with patients' age, time since injury and associated meniscal injury.

METHODS: A total of 43 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between October 2013 and February 2015 were taken for the study. Preoperative demographic data, clinical scores (Lysholm, IKDC) were recorded for each patient. Time since injury and associated meniscal injuries were recorded. Then a standardized surgical technique was used for each graft type. They were followed up for 6 months and the Lysholm and IKDC scores were evaluated.

RESULTS: Only 33 patients completed 6 months follow-up at the end of this study. Twenty-four patients (72.7%) were in the age group of 18-30 years. Nine patients belonged to age group 30-50 years (27.3%). The p value for differences in Lysholm scores between the two age groups was not significant (0.339). The p value for differences in IKDC scores between the two age groups was not significant either (0.138). The mean Lysholm scores were 93.86 ± 3.024 for the group who presented <6 months post-injury, 92 ± 5.494 for the group who presented between 6 months and 1 year and 94.64 ± 3.104 for the group who presented after 1 year; whereas the mean IKDC scores were 92.43 ± 0.793, 90.64 ± 6.598 and 90.89 ± 2.113 respectively. The correlation of outcomes with meniscal injury had no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Based on our study, we conclude that age, time since injury and associated meniscal injury does not affect short term functional outcome in ACL reconstruction.