Objective:To compare the efficacy of early versus delayed reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures under arthroscopy.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 260 young adults with ACL ruptures admitted to 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2022 to June 2024, including 171 males and 89 females, aged 18-45 years [(25.6±5.9)years]. Left knee was involved in 127 patients, while the right in 133 patients. All the patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with autologous tendon grafts, of whom 130 patients were treated within 3 months after injury (early reconstruction group) but other 130 treated at 3 months after injury (delayed reconstruction group). The operative duration and intraoperative bleeding were compared between the two groups. The incidence of medial meniscus (MM) and lateral meniscus (LM) tears and the incidence of corresponding types of tears were recorded intraoperatively in the two groups. Tegner score and Lysholm score preoperatively, at 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up were detected. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 3 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up and postoperative complication rate were compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-15 months [(9.1±3.2)months]. There were no significant differences in operative duration or intraoperative bleeding between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of MM tears in the early reconstruction group was 22.3% (29/130), lower than 34.6% (45/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of LM tears between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of MM bucket-handle tears in the early reconstruction group was 2.3% (3/130), lower than 9.2% (12/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.05), while no significant difference in the incidence of other types of meniscus tears was found between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in Tegner score or Lysholm score preoperatively between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up, the Tegner scores in the early reconstruction group were (7.4±1.3)points and (8.6±0.7)points, higher than (6.4±1.5)points and (7.9±0.6)points in the delayed reconstruction group and the Lysholm scores were (82.1±7.1)points and (90.7±3.8)points in the early reconstruction group, higher than (79.5±6.8)points and (86.3±4.0)points in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.01). There were no significant differences in VAS scores between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 8.5% (11/130) in the early reconstruction group and 12.3% (16/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For young patients with ACL rupture, arthroscopic reconstruction within 3 months after injury can reduce the incidence of MM tear and bucket-handle tear and improve knee function without increasing the incidence of other complications when compared with delayed reconstruction at 3 months after injury.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of early versus delayed reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures under arthroscopy.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 260 young adults with ACL ruptures admitted to 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2022 to June 2024, including 171 males and 89 females, aged 18-45 years [(25.6±5.9)years]. Left knee was involved in 127 patients, while the right in 133 patients. All the patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with autologous tendon grafts, of whom 130 patients were treated within 3 months after injury (early reconstruction group) but other 130 treated at 3 months after injury (delayed reconstruction group). The operative duration and intraoperative bleeding were compared between the two groups. The incidence of medial meniscus (MM) and lateral meniscus (LM) tears and the incidence of corresponding types of tears were recorded intraoperatively in the two groups. Tegner score and Lysholm score preoperatively, at 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up were detected. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 3 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up and postoperative complication rate were compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-15 months [(9.1±3.2)months]. There were no significant differences in operative duration or intraoperative bleeding between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of MM tears in the early reconstruction group was 22.3% (29/130), lower than 34.6% (45/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of LM tears between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of MM bucket-handle tears in the early reconstruction group was 2.3% (3/130), lower than 9.2% (12/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.05), while no significant difference in the incidence of other types of meniscus tears was found between the two groups ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in Tegner score or Lysholm score preoperatively between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up, the Tegner scores in the early reconstruction group were (7.4±1.3)points and (8.6±0.7)points, higher than (6.4±1.5)points and (7.9±0.6)points in the delayed reconstruction group and the Lysholm scores were (82.1±7.1)points and (90.7±3.8)points in the early reconstruction group, higher than (79.5±6.8)points and (86.3±4.0)points in the delayed reconstruction group ( P<0.01). There were no significant differences in VAS scores between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 8.5% (11/130) in the early reconstruction group and 12.3% (16/130) in the delayed reconstruction group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For young patients with ACL rupture, arthroscopic reconstruction within 3 months after injury can reduce the incidence of MM tear and bucket-handle tear and improve knee function without increasing the incidence of other complications when compared with delayed reconstruction at 3 months after injury.