In cases of chronic anterior laxity, reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can slow the development of osteoarthritis. This study was conducted to determine the overall prevalence of osteoarthritis and to identify the risk factors after ACL reconstruction.

Meniscus tears, time from injury to surgery, body mass index (BMI), residual laxity, and cartilage lesions influence the progression towards osteoarthritis.

This multicenter, retrospective study on the outcome of cruciate ligaments at 12 years of follow-up was conducted within the 2014 SOFCOT Symposium. The cohort included 675 arthroscopic reconstructions of the ACL from January 2002 to December 2003. The clinical evaluation included the objective and subjective IKDC score. Osteoarthritis was analyzed on 589 knee X-rays according to the IKDC classification. The predictive factors of osteoarthritis development studied were age, gender, BMI, time from injury to surgery, activity level, medial or lateral meniscectomy, type of graft, medial or lateral chondropathy, tunnel positioning, and residual laxity. Univariate and multivariate analyses with logistic regression were performed.

The mean follow-up was 11.9±0.8 years. The subjective IKDC score was 83.7±13. At 12 years, the rate of moderate to severe osteoarthritis l (IKDCC or D) was 19% (16% medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, 4% lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, and 2% patellofemoral osteoarthritis). The prognostic factors were age at surgery greater than 34 years (P<0.05), cartilage lesions at surgery (P<0.05), medial or lateral meniscectomy (P<0.05), and residual laxity (P<0.05).

This large-scale study identified risk factors for osteoarthritis that should improve the information provided to patients on long-term progression after ACL reconstruction.

Retrospective cohort study, level IV.