THE EFFECT OF MENISCAL STATUS ON KNEE STABILITY AND FUNCTION AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of meniscal status at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the ultimate function and stability of the knee joint. Seventy-on e patients were studied prospectively following bone-patellar tendon-b one ACL reconstruction. Subjects were divided into six subgroups relat ive to the integrity (intact, partial meniscectomy, complete meniscect omy) of the two menisci. After a minimum of 2 years of follow-up (rang e 2-4.1 years), 56 subjects were available for subjective, objective, and radiographic assessment. Meniscal status at the time of ACL recons truction proved to have no significant bearing on the ultimate stabili ty of the knee. However, individuals who had undergone meniscal excisi on reported subjective complaints and activity limitations more common ly than those with intact menisci (p < 0.05). Radiographic changes als o were more common in the meniscectomized subset.