Factors associated with knee osteoarthritis two years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Purpose: To determine factors that are associated with the presence and severity of radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis (OA) two years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: Forty-one athletes with two years of ACLR participated in the study and completed the International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 (IKDC2000)and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) questionnaires. Limb -to -limb knee ROM differences were measured. Athletes completed knee radiographs. Medial- and lateral -compartment -OA were graded using Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grades (Non -OA group (KL:<= 1), OA group (KL:>= 2; moderate (KL:2); severe (KL:3,4)). Results: Medial -compartment -OA was found in 31.7% of athletes (Moderate:17.1%, Severe:14.6%) and lateralcompartment -OA in 19.5% (Moderate:12.2%, severe:7.3%). Age (r = 0.306) and BMI (r = 0.382) (p <= 0.014) correlated with medial -compartment -OA; while age (r = 0.433), BMI (r = 0.388), meniscus injury (r = 0.378), and injury -to -surgery time (r:0.376) (p <= 0.022) correlated with severe medial -compartment -OA. KOOS-Sport/ Recreation (r = -0.386), IKDC 2000 (r = -0.343), and knee flexion ROM (r = -0.343) (p = 0.014) correlated with lateral -compartment -OA, while KOOS-Sport/Recreation (r = -0.376, p = 0.017) correlated with severe lateral -compartment -OA. Conclusion: Older athletes and high BMI were associated with medial -compartment -OA, while older athletes, high BMI, longer injury -to -surgery duration, and having a meniscus injury were associated with severe medialcompartment -OA. Lower KOOS-Sport/Recreation and IKDC2000 scores, and knee flexion ROM were associated with lateral -compartment -OA, while low KOOS-Sport/Recreation score was associated with severe lateralcompartment -OA.