Living with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can lead to lasting changes in the knee. A look at data from 1,432 patients shows that those with a chronic ACL deficiency—meaning the injury happened more than a year ago—have a higher chance of developing moderate to severe arthritis compared to those who had reconstructive surgery.
While both groups showed similar rates of mild arthritis, the severity was notably different. Specifically, 18.1% of patients with an untreated torn ACL developed moderate to severe arthritis, while only 12.8% of those who had reconstruction did. This suggests that a stable, repaired ligament might offer some protection against more intense joint wear.
One specific factor stood out: meniscectomy, which is the surgical removal of part of the meniscus (a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber), significantly sped up joint damage in patients with torn ACLs. Because the quality of the original studies was only moderate, these findings should be discussed with a doctor to understand how they apply to your specific injury.
