Knee arthritis more likely after ACL surgery

By Kathryn Doyle NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have had reconstructive surgery for a knee ligament tear develop wear-and-tear arthritis in the injured knee three times more often than in the uninjured knee, according to a new study. About 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries happen each year in the United States, and half of those injuries are surgically repaired, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Osteoarthritis occurs when protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down, and it can't be reversed. Researchers have known that reconstructed knees get osteoarthritis more often than healthy knees, but how much the risk increases was hard to determine.



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