The Fate of Untreated ACL Insufficient Knee Joint

The purpose of this study is to access and describe the status of patients with untreated anterior cruciate ligament ruptures to determine if prediction of functional deterioration in these knees were inevitable. 29 patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament verified arthroscopically were evaluated at an average of 3 years and 8 month after injury. This group of patients was selected by the retrospective review in patients who were treated with traumatic ligament injury of the knee joint. The average age at the injury time was 25.9 years ranged from 16 to 44 years and most of injuries occured during sports activities including 12 cases (4196) occured while the patients were playing football. Meniscal lesions were found in 21 cases(72.4%) of all 29 cases of which were 15 cases in the medial, 4 in the lateral and 2 in both side. Follow up functional average score using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee was 35.8 which would be fall in the Fair range defined as moderate functional disability and depending on the condition of thigh muscle, the functional score was 38.3 in case of less than 2cm atropy of the thigh on the involved side and 32.6 in case of more than 2cm atrophy. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.05) of the functional score. Reinjuries of the same knee joint were experienced in 22 cases (76%). Rehabilitation of thigh muscles would play an important part in recovery from the injuries.