Abstract: Background: People with Anterior Cruciate ligament Injury have been observed to have associated Meniscus Injury. At the time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction the concomitant Meniscus injuries are also treated. Meniscus surgery is performed to save the meniscus, if not physically, at least functionally. Tears with a high probability of healing with surgical intervention are repaired, whereas those tears which are not repairable are resected, preserving as much normal meniscus as possible. This study determines the relationship between (medial / lateral / combined) Meniscus injury present at the time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction and their effect on the outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction surgery.
Materials and Methods: A prospective Cohort study of 70 patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament and concomitant Meniscus injuries was carried out. These patients were followed up periodically, for a duration of one year. At the time of periodic review the outcome of surgery was assessed with physician administered Tegner Lysholm Knee Score and International Knee Documentation committee subjective score.
Results: Individuals with combined (both medial and lateral) Meniscus injuries had significant lower outcome scores than those with either medial or lateral Meniscus injuries as determined by analysis of variance (ANNOVA).
Conclusion: The patients with both Medial and Lateral Meniscus injury undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction had poorer outcome than those with only one of the Meniscus torn.
