Meniscal tears associated with complete vs partial anterior cruciate ligament injury

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and location of meniscal tears in relation to complete vs partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.Subjects and Methods: We collected MRI of 114 patients (114 knees) diagnosed with combined ACL and meniscal injury at a follow up 3 months to 2 years of knee injury at our center in last 3 years. The subjects comprised 68 males and 46 females ranging in age from 20 to 55 years. The patients were divided into two groups: Meniscal tears with Partial ACL injury and Complete ACL injury and the results were compared between this two groups.Results: The incidence of complete ACL injury diagnosed with MRI was 52.63% (60 of 114 knees) and partial ACL injury was 47.36% (54 of 114 knees). Regarding the locations of meniscal tears, in complete ACL injury (60 knees), medial meniscal tear was found in 60% (36 of 60 knees), lateral meniscal tear in 31.66 % (19 of 60 knees), and bilateral meniscal tears in 8.33 % (5 of 60 knees). In Partial ACL injury (54 knees), medial meniscal tear was found in 46.29 % (25 of 54 knees) and lateral meniscal tear in 42.59 % (23 of 54 knees) and bilateral (including medial and lateral) meniscal tears in 11.11 % (6 of 54 knees). Bucket handle tear was observed in 11 knees (medial: 8 knees, lateral: 3 knees) in complete ACL injury, and 4 knees (medial: 3 knees, lateral: 1 knee) in partial ACL injury.Conclusion: Incidence of medial meniscus tear was more than 50% in complete ACL injury. Lateral meniscus tear was more associated with partial ACL injury compared to complete ACL injury.