Long-term follow-up results of total or partial meniscectomy and untreated anterior cruciate ligament rupture

A group of 94 male and 12 female patients who all suffered from ACL ruptures had a follow-up examination after a period of 14 to 21 years (m = 17.2 years). Each of them had undergone a primary arthrotomy with total or partial meniscectomy. In none of the cases, however, had operative repair of the ACL rupture been performed. The most frequent concomitant injury was a torn medial meniscus which occurred in 74.5% of the cases whereas a damaged lateral meniscus was found in 17.0% of the cases only. Chondromalacia of tibia, femur or patella was observed in 42.5% of the cases. Over 60% of the patients resumed their former sports activities, although in nearly 30% of these cases at a lower level whereas one third of the patients had to practice some other sport or were even forced to give up sports completely. 61.3% still complained about instability of the knee joint, 73.6% of the patients with partial or total meniscectomy had developed osteoarthritis of grade III and IV. © Springer-Verlag 1998.