Cartilage
adaptation after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction:
implication of clinical management and research? A systematic review of
longitudinal MRI studies.
adaptation after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction:
implication of clinical management and research? A systematic review of
longitudinal MRI studies.
Van Ginckel A, Verdonk P, and Witvrouw
E. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013; 21:1009-1024.
E. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013; 21:1009-1024.
Take
Home Message: Cartilage adaption is detectable approximately 2 years follow-up.
In this time many changes which occur to the cartilage are a progression of the
blunt trauma which the joint is subject to following injury.
Home Message: Cartilage adaption is detectable approximately 2 years follow-up.
In this time many changes which occur to the cartilage are a progression of the
blunt trauma which the joint is subject to following injury.
After an athlete injures their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), we
make various treatment decisions (e.g., surgical and rehabilitation decisions) with
the goal of preventing or delaying the onset of osteoarthritis (OA); however,
we lack a true understanding of how cartilage adapts after an ACL injury. If we
knew how cartilage changes following an ACL injury then this could help us
optimize surgical methods and rehabilitation protocols to delay the development
of OA. Therefore, Van Ginckel and colleagues conducted a systematic review of
literature to better understand how cartilage changes over time and which
factors may affect the rate of cartilage change. The authors used a
standardized set of key terms to search several databases (i.e., PubMed,
SportDiscus CINAL, Biomed Central, Science Direct, and Web of Science). A total
of 5,338 records were identified through this search with 12 being finally selected
for qualitative analysis. Two investigators determined the overall quality of
the included studies; which assessed reporting, validity, and power of each
study. Six of the 12 studies were high quality. Overall, the investigators
determined that MRI-based macroscopic cartilage changes were undetectable until
2 years after surgery; however, microscopic changes to cartilage composition
may start at the time of the injury, particularly in the lateral compartment of
the knee. Researchers also concluded that baseline factors (meniscal status,
bone marrow lesion, and time from injury to reconstruction) significantly increase the rate of cartilage changes.
make various treatment decisions (e.g., surgical and rehabilitation decisions) with
the goal of preventing or delaying the onset of osteoarthritis (OA); however,
we lack a true understanding of how cartilage adapts after an ACL injury. If we
knew how cartilage changes following an ACL injury then this could help us
optimize surgical methods and rehabilitation protocols to delay the development
of OA. Therefore, Van Ginckel and colleagues conducted a systematic review of
literature to better understand how cartilage changes over time and which
factors may affect the rate of cartilage change. The authors used a
standardized set of key terms to search several databases (i.e., PubMed,
SportDiscus CINAL, Biomed Central, Science Direct, and Web of Science). A total
of 5,338 records were identified through this search with 12 being finally selected
for qualitative analysis. Two investigators determined the overall quality of
the included studies; which assessed reporting, validity, and power of each
study. Six of the 12 studies were high quality. Overall, the investigators
determined that MRI-based macroscopic cartilage changes were undetectable until
2 years after surgery; however, microscopic changes to cartilage composition
may start at the time of the injury, particularly in the lateral compartment of
the knee. Researchers also concluded that baseline factors (meniscal status,
bone marrow lesion, and time from injury to reconstruction) significantly increase the rate of cartilage changes.
Overall, this study helps clinicians better understand the changes that
occur after injury and through the first 2 years of the recovery process.
Conceivably, if clinicians are aware of the cartilage changes that occur during
this time period we can better tailor rehabilitation programs to limit the
furthering of these changes and/or have a preventative effect. For example, we
may modify joint loading during exercises to better preserve the articular
cartilage. The investigators also suggest that this better understanding may
lead to clinicians making return-to-play decisions based on cartilage fragility
and functional adaptations following surgery, although more long-term research
is needed to better understand how these programs affect cartilage and the
development of OA. Ultimately, concomitant injuries incurred at the time of ACL
rupture (e.g., meniscal tear, bone marrow lesions) increase the rate of
cartilage adaptation, thus speeding up the development of OA. When we see these
secondary injuries it may be particularly important for us to counsel our
patients about how they can reduce their risk of OA by modifying other risk
factors for OA (e.g., maintaining a healthy body weight).
occur after injury and through the first 2 years of the recovery process.
Conceivably, if clinicians are aware of the cartilage changes that occur during
this time period we can better tailor rehabilitation programs to limit the
furthering of these changes and/or have a preventative effect. For example, we
may modify joint loading during exercises to better preserve the articular
cartilage. The investigators also suggest that this better understanding may
lead to clinicians making return-to-play decisions based on cartilage fragility
and functional adaptations following surgery, although more long-term research
is needed to better understand how these programs affect cartilage and the
development of OA. Ultimately, concomitant injuries incurred at the time of ACL
rupture (e.g., meniscal tear, bone marrow lesions) increase the rate of
cartilage adaptation, thus speeding up the development of OA. When we see these
secondary injuries it may be particularly important for us to counsel our
patients about how they can reduce their risk of OA by modifying other risk
factors for OA (e.g., maintaining a healthy body weight).
Questions for discussion: What guideline do you currently
use when making a return-to-play decision following ACL surgery? Do you believe
that incorporating other factors such as cartilage fragility could be done
easily within your sports medicine team?
use when making a return-to-play decision following ACL surgery? Do you believe
that incorporating other factors such as cartilage fragility could be done
easily within your sports medicine team?
Written by: Kyle Harris
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Driban
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Van Ginckel A, Verdonk P, & Witvrouw E (2013). Cartilage adaptation after anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction: implications for clinical management and research? A systematic review of longitudinal MRI studies. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 21 (8), 1009-24 PMID: 23685095
This is interesting to me because it would be beneficial to have another way to see if athletes are ready to return to play after tearing their ACL. Clinicians can use functional testing and level of cartilage fragility instead of just using functional tests and slowly returning them to play. I do not know how easy it would be to incorporate that in the athletic training room.