Skip to main content
Journal cover image

The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Duchman, KR; Westermann, RW; Spindler, KP; Reinke, EK; Huston, LJ; Amendola, A; MOON Knee Group; Wolf, BR
Published in: Am J Sports Med
November 2015

BACKGROUND: The management of meniscus tears identified at the time of primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is highly variable and includes repair, meniscectomy, and nontreatment. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the reoperation rate for meniscus tears left untreated at the time of ACL reconstruction with a minimum follow-up of 6 years. The hypothesis was that small peripheral tears identified at the time of ACL reconstruction managed with "no treatment" would have successful clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Patients with meniscus tears left untreated at the time of primary ACL reconstruction were identified from a multicenter study group with a minimum 6-year follow-up. Patient, tear, and reoperation data were obtained for analysis. The need for reoperation was used as the primary endpoint, with analysis performed to determine patient and tear characteristics associated with reoperation. RESULTS: There were 194 patients with 208 meniscus tears (71 medial, 137 lateral) left in situ without treatment with a complete follow-up for analysis. Of these, 97.8% of lateral and 94.4% of medial untreated tears required no reoperation. Sixteen tears (7.7%) left in situ without treatment underwent subsequent reoperation: 9 tears (4.3%) underwent reoperation in the setting of revision ACL reconstruction, and 7 tears (3.4%) underwent reoperation for an isolated meniscus injury. The patient age was significantly lower in patients requiring reoperation, while tears measuring ≥10 mm more frequently required reoperation. CONCLUSION: Lateral and medial meniscus tears left in situ at the time of ACL reconstruction did not require reoperation at a minimum 6-year follow-up for 97.8% and 94.4% of tears, respectively. These findings re-emphasize the low reoperation rate after the nontreatment of small, peripheral lateral meniscus tears while noting less predictable results for medial meniscus tears left without treatment.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

EISSN

1552-3365

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

43

Issue

11

Start / End Page

2688 / 2695

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries
  • Rupture
  • Reoperation
  • Prospective Studies
  • Orthopedics
  • Male
  • Knee Joint
  • Knee Injuries
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Duchman, K. R., Westermann, R. W., Spindler, K. P., Reinke, E. K., Huston, L. J., Amendola, A., … Wolf, B. R. (2015). The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort. Am J Sports Med, 43(11), 2688–2695. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546515604622
Duchman, Kyle R., Robert W. Westermann, Kurt P. Spindler, Emily K. Reinke, Laura J. Huston, Annunziato Amendola, MOON Knee Group, and Brian R. Wolf. “The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort.Am J Sports Med 43, no. 11 (November 2015): 2688–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546515604622.
Duchman KR, Westermann RW, Spindler KP, Reinke EK, Huston LJ, Amendola A, et al. The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Nov;43(11):2688–95.
Duchman, Kyle R., et al. “The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort.Am J Sports Med, vol. 43, no. 11, Nov. 2015, pp. 2688–95. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0363546515604622.
Duchman KR, Westermann RW, Spindler KP, Reinke EK, Huston LJ, Amendola A, MOON Knee Group, Wolf BR. The Fate of Meniscus Tears Left In Situ at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 6-Year Follow-up Study From the MOON Cohort. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Nov;43(11):2688–2695.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

EISSN

1552-3365

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

43

Issue

11

Start / End Page

2688 / 2695

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries
  • Rupture
  • Reoperation
  • Prospective Studies
  • Orthopedics
  • Male
  • Knee Joint
  • Knee Injuries
  • Humans