THE PREVALENCE OF GONARTHROSIS AND ITS RELATION TO MENISCECTOMY IN FORMER SOCCER PLAYERS

The prevalence of radiographic signs of gonarthrosis and its relation to knee injuries were studied in 286 former soccer players-215 nonelit e and 71 elite players-and were compared with 572 age-matched controls with a mean age of 55 years. The prevalence of gonarthrosis among the nonelite players was 4.2%, among the elite players 15.5%, and among t he controls 1.6%. Seven of the soccer players had known anterior cruci ate ligament injuries, and 40 had had meniscectomies. Of the 32 noneli te players with knee injuries, 4 (13%) had gonarthrosis, and of the 18 3 without known knee injuries 5 (3%) had gonarthrosis. Among the elite players, the prevalence of gonarthrosis in knees without diagnosed in juries was 11%. We conclude that soccer, especially at an advanced lev el, is associated with an increased risk for gonarthrosis. After exclu ding subjects with known knee injuries, there was no difference betwee n nonelite players and controls, but we found a higher rate of gonarth rosis among the elite players.