RESEARCH ARTICLE
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Osteoarthritis Progression
James Min-Leong Wong*, 1, Tanvir Khan 1, Chethan S Jayadev 2, Wasim Khan 3, David Johnstone 4
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2012Volume: 6
Issue: Suppl 2
First Page: 295
Last Page: 300
Publisher ID: TOORTHJ-6-295
DOI: 10.2174/1874325001206010295
Article History:
Received Date: 14/2/2012Revision Received Date: 10/3/2012
Acceptance Date: 11/3/2012
Electronic publication date: 27/7/2012
Collection year: 2012

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture is a common sporting injury that frequently affects young, athletic patients. Apart from the functional problems of instability, patients with ACL deficient knees also develop osteoarthritis. Although this is frequently cited as an indication for ACL reconstruction, the relationship between ACL rupture, reconstruction and the instigation and progression of articular cartilage degenerative change is controversial.
The purpose of this paper is to review the published literature with regards ACL rupture and the multifactorial causes for osteoarthritis progression, and whether or not this is slowed or stopped by ACL reconstruction.
There is no evidence in the published literature to support the view that ACL reconstruction prevents osteoarthritis, although it may prevent further meniscal damage. It must be recognised that this conclusion is based on the current literature which has substantial methodological limitations.