Objective: To evaluate the effects of age, gender, tibial anterior laxity and time from surgery to follow-up on patellofemoral articular cartilage status after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by second-look arthroscopy.
Methods: A total of 102 patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction received second-look arthroscopy at least one year after operation. There were 71 males and 31 females with an average age of 27.1 (16-41) years. The average time from primary operation to second-look arthroscopy was 23 (12-51) months. Arthroscopic evaluations of patella and trochlea cartilage status for all patients were performed at initial anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and second-look arthroscopy. The effects of age, gender, tibial anterior laxity and time from surgery to follow-up on patellofemoral articular cartilage status were retrospectively examined.
Results: Patellofemoral articular cartilage degeneration continued to aggravate after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. There was no significant gender difference in patella and trochlear cartilage status. The patellar cartilage of patients under 30 years was worse than that of patients aged 30 years and above. Even though there was no significant difference. However, no significant inter-group difference existed in trochlear cartilage damage. With regard to KT-2000 side-to-side differences (0-3 mm vs >3 mm), no significant difference existed in patella and trochlear cartilage status. No significant difference was also found in the status of patella and trochlear cartilage between patients with body mass index under 24 kg/m(2) and patients 24 kg/m(2) and higher. The patellar cartilage of patients within 24 months after operation was significantly worse than that of patients 24 months and longer. However it did not apply to trochlear cartilage.
Conclusion: The degeneration of patellofemoral articular cartilage worsens after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. And significantly more severe lesions are found in patellar cartilage of patients within 24 months after operation.